Olfactory receptor expression libraries and methods of making and using them

ABSTRACT

This invention provides novel libraries of olfactory receptor odorant/ligand-binding domains and methods of making and using them. The invention also provides libraries of vectors and cells comprising these nucleic acid constructs. The compositions and methods of the invention are used to identify novel ligand-binding domains for olfactory neuron odorant receptors and their ligands. Thus, the compositions and methods of the invention can be used to generate novel odorants, to screen for toxic odorants, or to manipulate an animal&#39;s olfactory response.

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/259,430, filed Sep. 30, 2002 now abandoned, which is a divisional of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/465,901 filed Dec. 17, 1999, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,143, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/112,605 filed Dec. 17, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally pertains to the fields of cell biology and medicine. In particular, this invention provides novel libraries of nucleic acids encoding odorant/ligand-binding domains. Also provided are libraries of hybrid 7-transmembrane olfactory receptors comprising these odorant ligand-binding domains. The compositions and methods of the invention can be used to identify novel ligand-binding domains for olfactory neuron odorant receptors and their ligands. Thus, the compositions and methods of the invention can be used to generate novel odorants and to manipulate an animal's olfactory response.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A better understanding of the vertebrate olfactory system would provide improved means to manipulate this process and possibly prevent disease or injury. For example, means to manipulate human olfactory neuron odorant receptors from healthy individuals and from individuals with neuro-psychiatric illnesses would offer systems for testing possible odorant/ligands for therapeutic and toxic effects. However, our ability to detect and discriminate between the thousands of beneficial or toxic odorants is complicated by the fact that odorant receptors belong to a multigene family with at least 500 to 1000 members. Furthermore, each olfactory receptor neuron may express only one, or at most a few, of these olfactory receptors. Any given olfactory neuron cell can respond to a small, arbitrary set of odorant-ligands. Odorant discrimination for a given neuron may depend on the ligand specificity of the one or few receptors it expresses. Thus, given this systems' complexity, information about odorant/ligand-receptor recognition remains meager.

To analyze odorant/ligand-receptor interactions and their effects on cell physiology, it is first necessary to identify specific odorant/ligand(s) and the olfactory receptors to which they specifically bind. Such analysis requires isolation and expression of olfactory receptor polypeptides. However, despite the fact that many putative olfactory receptors have been cloned, only limited progress has been made in the functional expression of these receptors because present systems fail to efficiently translocate these 7-transmembrane proteins to the plasma membrane. This may be because olfactory receptors are a subclass of 7-transmembrane-domain receptors. For example, expression of one rat olfactory receptor in insect cells resulted in only a modest elevation in second messengers when exposed to a mixture of odorants; responses to single compounds were not seen (Raming (1993) Nature 361:353-356). The present invention addresses these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides novel compositions and methods to generate great numbers, or libraries, of odorant receptor ligand-binding regions. Also provided are novel chimeric olfactory receptors that incorporate these libraries of odorant binding domains. The present invention also provides novel compositions and methods to efficiently translocate polypeptides to the plasma membrane surface. Another aspect of the invention is based on the surprising discovery of a peptide domain that, when incorporated into a polypeptide, can with great efficiency “chaperone” or translocate the hybrid protein to the cell plasma membrane. Combining these two aspects of the invention also provides expression vectors and cells that efficiently express these recombinant proteins. Cells and transgenic animals efficiently expressing libraries of hybrid olfactory receptors can be used for screening potential beneficial and toxic odorant molecules.

The invention provides an amplification primer sequence pair for amplifying a nucleic acid encoding an olfactory receptor ligand-binding region comprising a first primer comprising a sequence 5′-GGGGTCCGGAG(A/G)(C/G) (A/G)TA(A/G/T)AT(A/G/P)A(A/G/P)(A/G/P)GG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:1) and a second primer comprising a sequence 5′-GGGGCTGCAGACACC(A/C/G/T)ATGTA(C/T) (C/T)T(A/C/G/T)TT(C/T)(C/T)T-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2). When used to amplify olfactory receptor nucleic acid sequences, it typically amplifies the receptor ligand-binding region comprising olfactory receptor transmembrane (TM) domains II through VII.

The invention also provides a method for generating nucleic acid sequence that encodes a ligand-binding region of an olfactory receptor, the method comprising amplification of a nucleic acid using the primer pair SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2. In this method the amplified nucleic acid can be genomic DNA, mRNA or cDNA derived from olfactory neurons or olfactory epithelium. The amplification can be by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), wherein the PCR amplification comprises the following conditions and steps in the following order: about one cycle at about 94° C. for about 2 min; and about 30 cycles of about 45° C. to about 65° C. for about 1 min, followed by about 72° C. for about one min. followed by about 94° C. for about 1 min. The PCR amplification protocol can further comprise the following conditions and steps in the following order: about one cycle of about 45° C. to about 65° C. for about 10 min; and about one cycle of about 72° C. for about 10 min.

Also provides is a kit for amplification of olfactory receptor sequences comprising primer pairs that can amplify olfactory receptor transmembrane domain regions II through VII, II through VI, III through VII, or III through VI, e.g., SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 to amplify TM II through VII.

The invention also provides a library of olfactory receptor ligand-binding regions consisting essentially of olfactory receptor transmembrane domain regions II through VII, II through VI, III through VII, or III through VI, including partial domains, or a combination of domain sequences. The library of the olfactory receptor ligand-binding regions can be generated by PCR using degenerate primer pairs.

Also provided is a library of chimeric nucleic acid sequences comprising the following domains in 5′ to 3′ order: a nucleic acid encoding an amino terminal plasma membrane translocation domain; a nucleic acid encoding a first transmembrane domain; and a nucleic acid encoding an olfactory receptor ligand-binding region, wherein the chimeric nucleic acid sequence encodes a 7-transmembrane polypeptide that can transverse a plasma membrane seven times. The amino terminal plasma membrane translocation domain comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 (and encoded by a subsequence of SEQ ID NO:6): 5′-

5′-GGATCCGGGTTCGCGCCGCCGGCGGGCAGCCGCAAGGGCCGCAGCCATGAACGGGACCGAGGGC (SEQ ID NO:6)                                                  M  N  G  T  E  G (SEQ ID NO:3) CCAAACTTCTACGTGCCTTTCTCCAACAAGACGGGCGTGGTGGAATTC-3′ P   N   F   Y   V   P  F  S  N  K  T  G  V  V

In alternative embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the first transmembrane domain can be just a polynucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:3, or, SEQ ID NO:6 (including 45 nucleotides upstream of the initiation codon) or a subsequence thereof.

The first transmembrane receptor of the sequences of the library can be a 7-transmembrane receptor region I domain, or subsequence thereof, e.g., the sequence between the Eco R1 and Pst 1 sites of the M4-chimeric olfactory receptor of the invention (SEQ ID NO:4), as schematically represented in FIG. 1A; the full length sequence of the hybrid receptor has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:55, a nucleic acid that can encode this protein is SEQ ID NO:54, described below.

The olfactory receptor ligand-binding regions of the library can comprise olfactory receptor transmembrane domain regions II through VII, II through VI, III through VII, or III through VI, or a combination thereof. These olfactory receptor ligand-binding regions can be generated by amplification, e.g., PCR, using degenerate primer pairs. The library's nucleic acid sequence encoding transmembrane domain regions II through VII can generated by PCR amplification of nucleic acid using a first primer comprising a sequence 5′-GGGGTCCGGAG(A/G)(C/G)(A/G)TA(A/G/T)AT(A/G/P)A(A/G/P)(A/G/P)GG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:1) and a second primer comprising a sequence 5′-GGGGCTGCA GACACC(A/C/G/T)ATGTA(C/T)(C/T)T(A/C/G/T)TT(C/T)(C/T)T-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2). The library can be generated from PCR-amplified nucleic acid isolated as or derived from genomic DNA, mRNA or cDNA derived from olfactory neurons or olfactory epithelium.

Exemplary ligand-binding regions comprising transmembrane domains II through VII ca be an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:45 and SEQ ID NO:47, or an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:48.

To generate the nucleic acids of the library, PCR amplification can comprise the following conditions and steps in the following order: about one cycle at about 94° C. for about 2 min; about 30 cycles of about 55° C. for about 1 min, followed by about 72° C. for about one min. followed by about 94° C. for about 1 min; about one cycle of about 55° C. for about 10 min; and about one cycle of about 72° C. for about 10 min.

The library can further comprise a carboxy terminal 7-transmembrane receptor transmembrane region VII domain or subsequence thereof, e.g., the sequence between the Bsp E1 and Xba 1 sites of the M4-chimeric olfactory receptor of the invention (SEQ ID NO:5), as schematically represented in FIG. 1A; the full length sequence of the hybrid receptor has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:55, a nucleic acid that can encode this protein is SEQ ID NO:54.

The library of nucleic acid sequences can also comprise the following domains in 5′ to 3′ order: a nucleic acid encoding an amino terminal plasma membrane translocation domain comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, a nucleic acid encoding a transmembrane region I domain comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, a nucleic acid sequence generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of mRNA or cDNA derived from olfactory epithelium using a first primer comprising a sequence 5′-GGGGTCCGGAG(A/G)(C/G)T(A/G)A(A/G/T)AT (A/G/P)A(A/G/P)(A/G/P)GG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:1) and a second primer comprising a sequence 5′-GGGGCTGCAGACACC(A/C/G/T)ATGTA(C/T)C/T)T(A/C/G/T) TT(C/T)C/T)T-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2), and a nucleic acid encoding a 7-transmembrane receptor transmembrane region VII domain comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:6.

Also provided are expression vectors (e.g., plasmids, viruses) comprising a nucleic acid sequence derived from the libraries of nucleic acid sequences of the invention. Transformed or isolated infected cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence derived from a library of nucleic acid sequences of the invention or an expression vector of the invention are also provided. Transgenic non-human animals comprising a nucleic acid sequence derived from a library of nucleic acid of the invention or an expression vector of the invention are also provided. In the transgenic animal, the expression vector can be a mammalian expression vector that can be expressed in olfactory epithelium or olfactory neurons.

The invention also provides a library of recombinant polypeptides translated or derived from the library of nucleic acids of the invention. Also provided are polypeptides isolated or derived from the library of polypeptides of the invention.

Also provided are methods of determining whether a test compound specifically binds to a mammalian olfactory receptor comprising the following steps: expressing a nucleic acid derived from a nucleic acid library of the invention under conditions permissive for translation of the nucleic acid to a receptor polypeptide; contacting the translated polypeptide with the test compound; and determining whether the test compound specifically binds to the polypeptide.

Also provided are methods of determining whether a test compound specifically binds to a mammalian olfactory transmembrane receptor comprising the following steps: contacting a cell stably or transiently transfected with a nucleic acid derived from a nucleic acid library of the invention; culturing the cell under conditions permissive for translation of the nucleic acid to a receptor polypeptide with the test compound; and determining whether the test compound specifically binds to the receptor polypeptide. In this method, the receptor polypeptide can be expressed as a transmembrane receptor with a ligand-binding site on the cell's plasma membrane outer surface. The specific binding of the test compound to the polypeptide can be determined by measuring a change in the physiologic activity of the cell, wherein a change in the cell's activity measured in the presence of the test compound compared to the cell's activity in the absence of the test compound provides a determination that the test compound specifically binds to the polypeptide. The measured cell activity can be a change in the calcium ion (Ca²⁺) or cAMP concentration in the cell, which can be measured by loading the cell with a calcium ion-sensitive fluorescent dye before contacting the cell with the test compound. In this method any cell can be used, e.g., a human cell or a Xenopus oocyte.

Also provided are methods of determining whether a test compound specifically binds to a mammalian olfactory transmembrane receptor polypeptide in vivo comprising the following steps: contacting a non-human animal stably or transiently infected with a nucleic acid derived from the library of the invention or an expression vector of the invention with the test compound; and determining whether the animal reacts to the test compound by specifically binding to the receptor polypeptide, wherein the specific binding of the test compound to the polypeptide is determined by measuring a change in a physiologic activity of the animal, wherein a change in a receptor-encoding vector-infected animal's activity measured in the presence of the test compound compared to a bare vector-infected animal's activity in the presence of the test compound provides a determination that the test compound specifically binds to the mammalian olfactory transmembrane receptor polypeptide. In this method, the measured physiologic activity can be measured by an electroolfactogram. The vector can be a recombinant virus, e.g., an adenovirus expression vector.

The invention also provides a method of determining whether a test compound is neurotoxic to an olfactory neuron expressing an olfactory transmembrane receptor polypeptide comprising the following steps: contacting an olfactory neuron cell stably or transiently infected with a nucleic acid derived from a library as set forth in claim 8 or claim 10 or an expression vector as set forth in claim 23 with the test compound; and measuring the physiologic activity of the cell, wherein a change in the cell's activity measured in the presence of the test compound compared to the cell's activity in the absence of the test compound provides a determination that the test compound is toxic. In this method toxicity can be indicated by abnormal calcium ion, cAMP or plasma membrane homeostasis.

Also provided are peptide domains for the efficient translocation of a newly translated protein to a plasma membrane comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 or an amino acid sequence having conservative amino acid residue substitutions based on SEQ ID NO:3. Translocation domains within the scope of the invention include amino acid sequences functionally equivalent to the exemplary translocation domain of the invention SEQ ID NO:3. The peptide translocation domain can be at least about 20 amino acids in length, at least about 30 amino acids in length or at least about 40 amino acids in length. The peptide translocation domain can have a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, or, be encoded by a nucleic acid comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:6. The newly translated protein can be a transmembrane protein, e.g., a 7-transmembrane protein receptor, e.g., an olfactory receptor.

The invention also provides a hybrid (chimeric) polypeptide comprising an amino terminal amino acid sequence comprising a peptide translocation domain of the invention and a second polypeptide sequence, wherein the second polypeptide sequence is not a rhodopsin polypeptide sequence. The second polypeptide sequence can be a transmembrane protein, e.g., a 7-transmembrane protein receptor, e.g., an olfactory receptor. Also provides are isolated or recombinant nucleic acid sequences encoding these hybrid polypeptides. For example, an exemplary chimeric polypeptide of the invention and a polynucleotide that encodes this hybrid, described in the Example below and schematically represented in FIG. 1A as the insert from BamH1 to XbaI, have the amino acid (SEQ ID NO:55) and nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:54) sequence, respectively (restriction enzyme sites are also indicated):

 BamHI GGATCCGGGTTCGCGCCGCCGGCGGGCAGCCGCAAGGGCCGCAGCCATGAACGGGACCGAGGGC (SEQ ID NO:54)                                                M  N  G  T  E  G (SEQ ID NO:55)                                           EcoRI CCAAACTTCTACGTGCCTTTCTCCAACAAGACGGGCGTGGTGGAATTCCCCGGTCAGAACTACA  P  N  F  Y  V  P  F  S  N  K  T  G  V  V  E  F  P  G  Q  N  Y   S GCACCATATCAGAATTTATCCTCTTTGGTTTCTCAGCCTTCCCACACCAGATGCTCCCTGCTCT S  T  I  S  E  F  I  L  F  G  F  S  A  F  P  H  Q  M  L  P  A  L GTTCCTGCTCTACTTGCTGATGTATTTGTTCACTCTTCTGGGGAACCTGGTCATCATGGCTGCT   F  L  L  Y  L  L  M  Y  L  F  T  L  L  G  N  L  V  I  M  A  A                    PstI         BspEI ATCTGGACAGAACATAGACTGCAGACACCCATCCGGAAAGGAGCTGAAGAATGCTATAATTAAA  I  W  T  E  H  R  L  Q         S  G  K  E  L  K  N  A  I  I  K                                                  XbaI AGCTTCCACAGGAATGTCTGTCAACAAAGTATCTAAGTGTCAGTTCTGTCTAGA  S  F  H  R  N  V  C  Q  Q  S  I  STOP

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention is realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, the figures and claims.

All publications, GenBank deposited sequences, ATCC deposits, patents and patent applications cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated by reference for all purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a schematic of a mammalian expression construct of the invention comprising a translocation domain of the invention and an odorant/ligand-binding domain generated by degenerate PCR primers, as described in detail in Example 1, below.

FIG. 1B shows a phylogenetic tree of 26 cloned mouse olfactory receptor TMII-VIII sequences. Deduced amino acid sequences (boldface) were aligned by the ClustalW algorithm. For comparison, ten TMII-VIII regions (in italics) from published rat olfactory receptors (Buck and Axel, 1991) were included with the mouse sequences in the alignment. Scale gives percentage of amino acid divergence as depicted by the black lines in the dendrogram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides novel compositions and methods to efficiently translocate newly translated polypeptides to the plasma membrane surface. This aspect of the invention is based on the surprising discovery of peptide domains (e.g., SEQ ID NO:3) that, when incorporated into the amino terminus of a polypeptide coding sequence, can with great efficiency “chaperone” or “translocate” the hybrid (“fusion”) protein to the cell plasma membrane. This “translocation domain” was initially derived from the amino terminus of the human rhodopsin receptor polypeptide, a 7-transmembrane receptor. Thus, the translocation domain of the invention is particularly efficient in translocating 7-transmembrane fusion proteins to the plasma membrane. For example, the mouse olfactory receptor M4 (see, e.g., Qasba (1998) J. Neurosci. 18:227-236) expressed in a mammalian cell line is inefficiently translocated to the cell. In contrast, when a translocating domain of the invention (SEQ ID NO:3) was spliced to the amino terminus of the M4 olfactory receptor polypeptide, cell surface expression of the newly translated protein increased from undetectable levels to 10% or more of the total expressed protein (as determined by confocal microscopic imaging with antibodies that recognize the carboxyl terminus of the M4 receptor). Furthermore, subsequent functional expression studies demonstrated that no responses could be observed upon addition of extracellular ligand unless the translocation domain of the invention (SEQ ID NO:3) was included to effect surface localization.

The invention also provides novel means to generate libraries of odorant/ligand-binding regions of olfactory receptor proteins. Great numbers of these ligand-regions can be generated by amplification (e.g., by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) of nucleic acid from olfactory neurons and epithelium using degenerate primer pairs. The primer pairs selectively amplify the odorant/ligand-binding regions of olfactory receptor proteins. The odorant/ligand-binding regions can comprise transmembrane domain II through VII, III through VII, III through VI, II through VI, or combinations or variation thereof, of the 7-transmembrane olfactory receptor (see below for detailed discussion). Thus, amplification of, e.g., genomic DNA, or message or cDNA from olfactory neurons, using the degenerate primers of the invention can generate great numbers, or “libraries,” of odorant/ligand-binding region encoding nucleic acid.

The odorant/ligand-binding region-amplifying degenerate primers of the invention are at least about 17 base pair residues in length. Amplification conditions can vary; however, lower temperature conditions (e.g., below about 55° C., usually not lower than about 45° C.) will generate libraries of greater complexity and higher temperatures (e.g., over about 55° C.) will generate libraries of less complexity.

For screening and identification of odorant/ligands that specifically bind to the domains encoded by the nucleic acid “libraries” of the invention, the amplified sequences can be recombinantly spliced into a “framework” polypeptide that is expressed on the cell surface. If functional studies (including, e.g., cell signaling responses, e.g., calcium transients) are desired, 7-membrane polypeptide coding sequences are used as “donor” regions. In this scheme, the “donor” 7-membrane polypeptide provides the coding sequence needed to complement the insert, i.e., a nucleic acid from an odorant/ligand-binding region library of the invention. For example, if the amplified odorant/ligand-binding region is equivalent to transmembrane domain II through VII, the “donor” provides transmembrane domain I; if the binding region is transmembrane domain III through VI, the “donor” provides the amino terminal transmembrane domain I and the carboxy terminal domain VII; and the like. Any 7-membrane polypeptide coding sequence can be used as “donor,” including olfactory receptor polypeptide; however, some receptors which depend on long amino-terminal extensions for ligand recognition and binding (e.g., metabatropic glutamate, extracellular calcium sensors, GnRH and FSH peptide hormone receptors) may not produce functional receptors using this method.

These constructs can be cloned into expression systems, e.g., plasmids, vectors, viruses and the like. Any system can be used, from a minimal transcription unit (e.g., an expression cassette) to a recombinant virus capable of infecting an animal (e.g., an engineered adenovirus). These vectors can be used for functional expression assays in vitro or in vivo to screen large numbers of putative odorant/ligand molecules or to test for potential odorant toxicity.

The efficiency of the odorant-receptor screening systems of the invention are greatly increased by generating odorant receptor fusion proteins that can efficiently translocate to the plasma membrane. These hybrid receptors comprise the polypeptide translocating domains and the libraries of odorant/ligand-binding regions of the invention. With this scheme the invention provides an efficient means to generate and efficiently express thousands of olfactory receptor binding domains in functional cell and animal assays for the rapid screening of potential beneficial and toxic odorant/ligands.

Both in vitro and in vivo systems can be constructed and used in the methods of the invention. In vitro screening can include, e.g., liposome or lipid or planar membrane models. In vivo screening systems can include, e.g., use of human cells, e.g., olfactory neuron cell lines, or infection of animals (e.g., with virus with sequence encoding chimeric receptor) and transgenic animals that express the constructs of the invention. Adenovirus gene transfer vectors are particularly efficient for the transfer of nucleic acids encoding the hybrid olfactory receptor proteins of the invention to nasal/respiratory epithelium.

When human olfactory receptor nucleic acid is amplified, the in vitro models, cultured cells, and infected and transgenic animals can be used for screening large numbers of molecules for their potential as human odorants. The effect of an odorant on neuronal cell physiology can be also assessed. For example, the screening systems of the invention can be used to test whether an odorant/ligand may be potentially toxic (or beneficial) in humans. Any cell physiologic activity can be measured, e.g., cell death, cell growth, intracellular calcium ion changes, second messengers (e.g., G protein activation, cAMP increases), and the like. The effect of odorant/ligands on apoptotic mechanisms, neuronal growth characteristics (such as neuron population doubling time and length of processes), ion exchange and other measurable parameters can also be used to analyze their potential potency and toxicity.

Definitions:

The term “amplifying” and “amplification” as used herein incorporates its common usage and refers to the use of any suitable amplification methodology for generating or detecting recombinant or naturally expressed nucleic acid, as described in detail, below. For example, the invention provides methods and reagents (e.g., specific degenerate oligonucleotide primer pairs) for amplifying (e.g., by polymerase chain reaction, PCR) naturally expressed (e.g., genomic or mRNA) or recombinant (e.g., cDNA) nucleic acids of the invention (e.g., odorant/ligand binding sequences of the invention) in vivo or in vitro.

The term “7-transmembrane receptor” means a polypeptide belonging to a superfamily of transmembrane proteins that have seven domains that span the plasma membrane seven times (thus, the seven domains are called “transmembrane” or “TM” domains TM I to TM VII). Olfactory receptors belong to this family. 7-transmembrane receptor polypeptides have similar and characteristic primary, secondary and tertiary structures, as discussed in detail below.

The term “expression vector” refers to any recombinant expression system for the purpose of expressing a nucleic acid sequence of the invention in vitro or in vivo, constitutively or inducibly, in any cell, including prokaryotic, yeast, fungal, plant, insect or mammalian cell. The term includes linear or circular expression systems. The term includes expression systems that remain episomal or integrate into the host cell genome. The expression systems can have the ability to self-replicate or not, i.e., drive only transient expression in a cell. The term includes recombinant expression “cassettes” which contain only the minimum elements needed for transcription of the recombinant nucleic acid.

As used herein, “isolated,” when referring to a molecule or composition, such as, e.g., an isolated infected cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence derived from a library of the invention, means that the molecule or composition (including, e.g., a cell) is separated from at least one other compound, such as a protein, DNA, RNA, or other contaminants with which it is associated in vivo or in its naturally occurring state. Thus, a nucleic acid sequence is considered isolated when it has been isolated from any other component with which it is naturally associated. An isolated composition can, however, also be substantially pure. An isolated composition can be in a homogeneous state. It can be in a dry or an aqueous solution. Purity and homogeneity can be determined, e.g., using any analytical chemistry technique, as described herein.

The term “library” means a preparation that is a mixture different nucleic acid or polypeptide molecules, such as the library of recombinantly generated olfactory receptor ligand binding domains generated by amplification of nucleic acid with degenerate primer pairs, e.g., SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, or an isolated collection of vectors that incorporate the amplified odorant/ligand binding domains of the invention, or a mixture of cells each randomly transfected with at least one vector of the invention.

The term “nucleic acid” or “nucleic acid sequence” refers to a deoxy-ribonucleotide or ribonucleotide oligonucleotide in either single- or double-stranded form. The term encompasses nucleic acids, i.e., oligonucleotides, containing known analogues of natural nucleotides. The term also encompasses nucleic-acid-like structures with synthetic backbones, see e.g., Oligonucleotides and Analogues, a Practical Approach, ed. F. Eckstein, Oxford Univ. Press (1991); Antisense Strategies, Annals of the N.Y. Academy of Sciences, Vol. 600, Eds. Baserga et al. (NYAS 1992); Milligan (1993) J. Med. Chem. 36:1923-1937; Antisense Research and Applications (1993, CRC Press), WO 97/03211; WO 96/39154; Mata (1997) Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 144:189-197; Strauss-Soukup (1997) Biochemistry 36:8692-8698; Samstag (1996) Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev 6:153-156.

The term “P” in the sequence is 5′-Dimethoxytrityl-N-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-Cytidine,3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropyl)]-phosphoramidite, or equivalent thereof. “P” can be purchased by, e.g., Glen Research, Sterling, Va., described as “dC-CE Phosphoramidite” catalog number 10-1010-xx.

The term “olfactory receptor ligand-binding region” or “olfactory receptor ligand-binding domain” means a sequence derived from an olfactory receptor that substantially incorporates transmembrane domains II to VII (TM II to VII). The domain may be capable of binding a ligand.

The term “plasma membrane translocation domain” or simply “translocation domain” means a polypeptide domain that is functionally equivalent to the exemplary translocation domain of the invention (SEQ ID NO:3). Exemplary amino terminal plasma membrane translocation domain SEQ ID NO:3 was initially derived from the rhodopsin receptor amino terminus. A protein (e.g., an olfactory receptor polypeptide) comprising SEQ ID NO:3 as an amino terminal translocating domain will be transported to the plasma membrane more efficiently than without the domain (e.g., as discussed above, M4 receptor expression increased from undetectable levels to at least 10% of the total expressed protein). “Functional equivalency” means the domain's ability and efficiency in translocating newly translated proteins to the plasma membrane as efficiently as exemplary SEQ ID NO:3 under similar conditions; relatively efficiencies can be measured (in quantitative terms) and compared, as described herein. Domains falling within the scope of the invention can be determined by routine screening for their efficiency in translocating newly synthesized polypeptides to the plasma membrane in a cell (mammalian, Xenopus, and the like) with the same efficiency as the twenty amino acid long translocation domain SEQ ID NO:3, as described in detail below.

The “translocation domain,” odorant/ligand binding domains, and chimeric receptors compositions of the invention also include “analogs,” or “conservative variants” and “mimetics” (“peptidomimetics”) with structures and activity that substantially correspond to the exemplary sequences, such as the SEQ ID NO:3 translocation domain. Thus, the terms “conservative variant” or “analog” or “mimetic” refer to a polypeptide which has a modified amino acid sequence, such that the change(s) do not substantially alter the polypeptide's (the conservative variant's) structure and/or activity, as defined herein. These include conservatively modified variations of an amino acid sequence, i.e., amino acid substitutions, additions or deletions of those residues that are not critical for protein activity, or substitution of amino acids with residues having similar properties (e.g., acidic, basic, positively or negatively charged, polar or non-polar, etc.) such that the substitutions of even critical amino acids does not substantially alter structure and/or activity. Conservative substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art. For example, one exemplary guideline to select conservative substitutions includes (original residue followed by exemplary substitution): ala/gly or ser; arg/lys; asn/gln or his; asp/glu; cys/ser; gln/asn; gly/asp; gly/ala or pro; his/asn or gln; ile/leu or val; leu/ile or val; lys/arg or gln or glu; met/leu or tyr or ile; phe/met or leu or tyr; ser/thr; thr/ser; trp/tyr; tyr/trp or phe; val/ile or leu. An alternative exemplary guideline uses the following six groups, each containing amino acids that are conservative substitutions for one another: 1) Alanine (A), Serine (S), Threonine (T); 2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E); 3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q); 4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K); 5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V); and 6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W); (see also, e.g., Creighton (1984) Proteins, W. H. Freeman and Company; Schulz and Schimer (1979) Principles of Protein Structure, Springer-Verlag). One of skill in the art will appreciate that the above-identified substitutions are not the only possible conservative substitutions. For example, for some purposes, one may regard all charged amino acids as conservative substitutions for each other whether they are positive or negative. In addition, individual substitutions, deletions or additions that alter, add or delete a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids in an encoded sequence can also be considered “conservatively modified variations.”

The terms “mimetic” and “peptidomimetic” refer to a synthetic chemical compound that has substantially the same structural and/or functional characteristics of the polypeptides, e.g., translocation domains or odorant-ligand binding domains or chimeric receptors of the invention. The mimetic can be either entirely composed of synthetic, non-natural analogues of amino acids, or, is a chimeric molecule of partly natural peptide amino acids and partly non-natural analogs of amino acids. The mimetic can also incorporate any amount of natural amino acid conservative substitutions as long as such substitutions also do not substantially alter the mimetic's structure and/or activity. As with polypeptides of the invention which are conservative variants, routine experimentation will determine whether a mimetic is within the scope of the invention, i.e., that its structure and/or function is not substantially altered. Polypeptide mimetic compositions can contain any combination of non-natural structural components, which are typically from three structural groups: a) residue linkage groups other than the natural amide bond (“peptide bond”) linkages; b) non-natural residues in place of naturally occurring amino acid residues; or c) residues which induce secondary structural mimicry, i.e., to induce or stabilize a secondary structure, e.g., a beta turn, gamma turn, beta sheet, alpha helix conformation, and the like. A polypeptide can be characterized as a mimetic when all or some of its residues are joined by chemical means other than natural peptide bonds. Individual peptidomimetic residues can be joined by peptide bonds, other chemical bonds or coupling means, such as, e.g., glutaraldehyde, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, bifunctional maleimides, N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) or N,N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC). Linking groups that can be an alternative to the traditional amide bond (“peptide bond”) linkages include, e.g., ketomethylene (e.g., —C(═O)—CH₂— for —C(═O)—NH—), aminomethylene (CH₂—NH), ethylene, olefin (CH═CH), ether (CH₂—O), thioether (CH₂—S), tetrazole (CN₄—), thiazole, retroamide, thioamide, or ester (see, e.g., Spatola (1983) in Chemistry and Biochemistry of Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins, Vol. 7, pp 267-357, “Peptide Backbone Modifications,” Marcell Dekker, NY). A polypeptide can also be characterized as a mimetic by containing all or some non-natural residues in place of naturally occurring amino acid residues; non-natural residues are well described in the scientific and patent literature.

As used herein, “recombinant” refers to a polynucleotide synthesized or otherwise manipulated in vitro (e.g., “recombinant polynucleotide”), to methods of using recombinant polynucleotides to produce gene products in cells or other biological systems, or to a polypeptide (“recombinant protein”) encoded by a recombinant polynucleotide. “Recombinant means” also encompass the ligation of nucleic acids having various coding regions or domains or promoter sequences from different sources into an expression cassette or vector for expression of, e.g., inducible or constitutive expression of a fusion protein comprising a translocation domain of the invention and a nucleic acid sequence amplified using a primer of the invention.

The term “transmembrane domain” means a polypeptide domain that can completely span the plasma membrane. The general secondary and tertiary structure of transmembrane domains, particular the seven transmembrane domains of 7-transmembrane receptors such as olfactory receptors, are well known in the art. Thus, primary structure sequence can be designed or predicted based on known transmembrane domain sequences, as described in detail, below. One such exemplary domain is the 7-transmembrane receptor transmembrane region I domain comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4.

Generation and Genetic Engineering of Nucleic Acids

This invention provides novel PCR primers for the amplification of nucleic acids encoding olfactory receptor ligand binding regions and libraries of these nucleic acids. The invention also provides novel libraries of expression vectors that are used to infect or transfect cells for the functional expression of these libraries. As the genes and vectors of the invention can be made and expressed in vitro or in vivo, the invention provides for a variety of means of making and expressing these genes and vectors. One of skill will recognize that desired phenotypes for altering and controlling nucleic acid expression can be obtained by modulating the expression or activity of the genes and nucleic acids (e.g., promoters, enhancers and the like) within the vectors of the invention. Any of the known methods described for increasing or decreasing expression or activity can be used for this invention. The invention can be practiced in conjunction with any method or protocol known in the art, which are well described in the scientific and patent literature.

General Techniques

The nucleic acid sequences of the invention and other nucleic acids used to practice this invention, whether RNA, cDNA, genomic DNA, vectors, viruses or hybrids thereof, may be isolated from a variety of sources, genetically engineered, amplified, and/or expressed recombinantly. Any recombinant expression system can be used, including, in addition to mammalian cells, e.g., bacterial, yeast, insect or plant systems.

Alternatively, these nucleic acids can be synthesized in vitro by well-known chemical synthesis techniques, as described in, e.g., Carruthers (1982) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 47:411-418; Adams (1983) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 105:661; Belousov (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3440-3444; Frenkel (1995) Free Radic. Biol. Med. 19:373-380; Blommers (1994) Biochemistry 33:7886-7896; Narang (1979) Meth. Enzymol. 68:90; Brown (1979) Meth. Enzymol. 68:109; Beaucage (1981) Tetra. Lett. 22:1859; U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066. Double stranded DNA fragments may then be obtained either by synthesizing the complementary strand and annealing the strands together under appropriate conditions, or by adding the complementary strand using DNA polymerase with an appropriate primer sequence.

Techniques for the manipulation of nucleic acids, such as, e.g., generating mutations in sequences, subcloning, labeling probes, sequencing, hybridization and the like are well described in the scientific and patent literature, see, e.g., Sambrook, ed., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL (2ND. ED.), Vols. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, (1989); CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Ausubel, ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (1997); LABORATORY TECHNIQUES IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY: HYBRIDIZATION WITH NUCLEIC ACID PROBES, Part I. Theory and Nucleic Acid Preparation, Tijssen, ed. Elsevier, N.Y. (1993).

Nucleic acids, vectors, capsids, polypeptides, and the like can be analyzed and quantified by any of a number of general means well known to those of skill in the art. These include, e.g., analytical biochemical methods such as NMR, spectrophotometry, radiography, electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), and hyperdiffusion chromatography, various immunological methods, e.g. fluid or gel precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion, immuno-electrophoresis, radioimmunoassays (RIAs), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), immuno-fluorescent assays, Southern analysis, Northern analysis, dot-blot analysis, gel electrophoresis (e.g., SDS-PAGE), RT-PCR, quantitative PCR, other nucleic acid or target or signal amplification methods, radiolabeling, scintillation counting, and affinity chromatography.

Amplification of Nucleic Acids

The invention provides oligonucleotide primers that can amplify nucleic acid encoding an olfactory receptor ligand-binding region. The nucleic acids of the invention can also be cloned or measured quantitatively using amplification techniques. Using the exemplary degenerate primer pair sequences of the invention (see below), the skilled artisan can select and design suitable oligonucleotide amplification primers. Amplification methods are also well known in the art, and include, e.g., polymerase chain reaction, PCR (PCR PROTOCOLS, A GUIDE TO METHODS AND APPLICATIONS, ed. Innis, Academic Press, N.Y. (1990) and PCR STRATEGIES (1995), ed. Innis, Academic Press, Inc., N.Y., ligase chain reaction (LCR) (see, e.g., Wu (1989) Genomics 4:560; Landegren (1988) Science 241:1077; Barringer (1990) Gene 89:117); transcription amplification (see, e.g., Kwoh (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1173); and, self-sustained sequence replication (see, e.g., Guatelli (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:1874); Q Beta replicase amplification (see, e.g., Smith (1997) J. Clin. Microbiol. 35:1477-1491), automated Q-beta replicase amplification assay (see, e.g., Burg (1996) Mol. Cell. Probes 10:257-271) and other RNA polymerase mediated techniques (e.g., NASBA, Cangene, Mississauga, Ontario); see also Berger (1987) Methods Enzymol. 152:307-316; Sambrook; Ausubel; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202; Sooknanan (1995) Biotechnology 13:563-564.

Once amplified, the libraries can be cloned, if desired, into any of a variety of vectors using routine molecular biological methods; methods for cloning in vitro amplified nucleic acids are described, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,039. To facilitate cloning of amplified sequences, restriction enzyme sites can be “built into” the PCR primer pair. For example, Pst I and Bsp E1 sites were designed into the exemplary primer pairs of the invention. These particular restriction sites were chosen because they have a sequence that, when ligated, are “in-frame” with respect to the 7-membrane receptor “donor” coding sequence into which they are spliced (the odorant/ligand binding region-coding sequence is internal to the 7-membrane polypeptide, thus, if it is desired that the construct be translated downstream of a restriction enzyme splice site, out of frame results should be avoided; this may not be necessary if the inserted odorant/ligand binding domain comprises substantially most of the transmembrane VII region). The primers can be designed to retain the original sequence of the “donor” 7-membrane receptor (the Pst I and Bsp E1 sequence in the primers of the invention generate an insert that, when ligated into the Pst I/Bsp E1 cut vector, encode residues found in the “donor” mouse olfactory receptor M4 sequence). Alternatively, the primers can encode amino acid residues that are conservative substitutions (e.g., hydrophobic for hydrophobic residue, see above discussion) or functionally benign substitutions (e.g., do not prevent plasma membrane insertion, cause cleavage by peptidase, cause abnormal folding of receptor, and the like).

Degenerate Primer Design

The primer pairs of the invention are designed to selectively amplify odorant/ligand-binding regions of olfactory receptor proteins. These domain regions may vary for different odorants; thus, what may be a minimal binding region for one odorant may be too limiting for a second potential ligand. Thus, the invention includes amplification of domain regions of different sizes comprising different domain structures; for example, transmembrane (TM) domains II through VII, III through VII, III through VI or II through VI, or variations thereof (e.g., only a subsequence of a particular domain, mixing the order of the domains, and the like), of a 7-transmembrane olfactory receptor. As domain structures and sequence of many 7-membrane proteins, particularly olfactory receptors, are known, the skilled artisan can readily select domain-flanking and internal domain sequences as model sequences to design degenerate amplification primer pairs. For example, a nucleic acid sequence encoding domain regions II through VII can be generated by PCR amplification using a primer pair SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 (see FIG. 1). To amplify a nucleic acid comprising transmembrane domain I (TM I) sequence, a degenerate primer can be designed from a nucleic acid that encodes the amino acid sequence LFLLYL 3′ (SEQ ID NO:49). Such a degenerate primer can be used to generate a binding domain incorporating TM I through TM III, TM I through TM IV, TM I through TM V, TM I through TM VI or TM I through TM VII).

To amplify a nucleic acid comprising a transmembrane domain III (TM III) sequence, a degenerate primer (of at least about 17 residues) can be designed from a nucleic acid that encodes the amino acid sequence M(A/G)(Y/F)DRYVAI 3′ (SEQ ID NO:50 (encoded by a nucleic acid sequence such as 5′-ATGG(G/C)CT(A/T)TGACCG (C/A/T)T(AT)(C/T)GT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:51)). Such a degenerate primer can be used to generate a binding domain incorporating TM III through TM IV, TM III through TM V, TM III through TM VI or TM III through TM VII.

To amplify transmembrane domain VI (TM VI) sequence, a degenerate primer (of at least about 17 residues) can be designed from nucleic acid encoding an amino acid sequence TC(glycine/Alanine)SHL (SEQ ID NO:52), encoded by a sequence such as 5′-AG(G/A)TGN(G/C)(T/A)N(G/C)C(G/A)CANGT-3′) 3′ (SEQ ID NO:53), Such a degenerate primer can be used to generate a binding domain incorporating TM I through TM VI, TM II through TM VI, TM III through TM VI or TM IV through TM VI).

Paradigms to design degenerate primer pairs are well known in the art. For example, a COnsensus-DEgenerate Hybrid Oligonucleotide Primer (CODEHOP) strategy computer program is accessible on-line from the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, and is directly linked from the BlockMaker multiple sequence alignment site for hybrid primer prediction beginning with a set of related protein sequences, as known olfactory receptor ligand binding regions (see, e.g., Rose (1998) Nucleic Acids Res. 26:1628-1635; Singh (1998) Biotechniques 24:318-319).

Means to synthesize oligonucleotide primer pairs are well known in the art. “Natural” base pairs or synthetic base pairs can be used. For example, use of artificial nucleobases offers a versatile approach to manipulate primer sequence and generate a more complex mixture of amplification products. Various families of artificial nucleobases are capable of assuming multiple hydrogen bonding orientations through internal bond rotations to provide a means for degenerate molecular recognition. Incorporation of these analogs into a single position of a PCR primer allows for generation of a complex library of amplification products. See, e.g., Hoops (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:4866-4871. Nonpolar molecules can also be used to mimic the shape of natural DNA bases. A non-hydrogen-bonding shape mimic for adenine can replicate efficiently and selectively against a nonpolar shape mimic for thymine (see, e.g., Morales (1998) Nat. Struct. Biol. 5:950-954). For example, two degenerate bases can be the pyrimidine base 6H, 8H-3,4-dihydropyrimido[4,5-c][1,2]oxazin-7-one or the purine base N6-methoxy-2,6-diaminopurine (see, e.g., Hill (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:4258-4263). Exemplary degenerate primers of the invention incorporate the nucleobase analog 5′-Dimethoxytrityl-N-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-Cytidine,3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropyl)]-phosphoramidite ((the term “P” in the sequences, see above). This pyrimidine analog hydrogen bonds with purines, including A and G residues.

Exemplary primer pairs for amplification of olfactory receptor transmembrane domains II through VII include:

(a) (SEQ ID NO:1) 5′-GGGGTCCGGAG(A/G)(C/G)(A/G)TA(A/G/T)AT(A/G/P)A (A/G/P)(A/G/P)GG-3′ and (SEQ ID NO:2) 5′-GGGGCTGCAGACACC(A/C/G/T)ATGTA(C/T)(C/T)T (A/C/G/T)TT(C/T)(C/T)T-3′. (b) (SEQ ID NO:7) 5′-GGGGTCCGGAG(A/G)(C/G)T(A/G)A(A/G/T)AT(A/G/P)A (A/G/P)(A/G/P)GG-3′ and (SEQ ID NO:8) 5′-GGGGCTGCAGACACC(A/C/G/T)ATGTA(C/T)(C/T)T (A/C/G/T)TT(C/T)(C/T)T-3′ (c) (SEQ ID NO:9) 5′-GGGGTCCGGAG(A/G)(C/G)T(A/G)A(A/G/T)AT(A/G/C/T)A (A/G/C/T)(A/G/C/T)GG-3′ and (SEQ ID NO:10) 5′-GGGGCTGCAGACACC(A/C/G/T)ATGTA(C/T)(C/T)T (A/C/G/T)TT(C/T)(C/T)T-3′. Generating Nucleic Acids from Olfactory Receptor-Expressing Cells

The invention provides method for generating nucleic acids that encode ligand-binding regions of olfactory receptors by amplification (e.g., PCR) of appropriate nucleic acid sequences using degenerate primer pairs. The amplified nucleic acid can be genomic DNA from any cell or tissue or mRNA or cDNA derived from olfactory receptor-expressing cells, e.g., olfactory neurons or olfactory epithelium.

Isolation of from olfactory receptor-expressing cells is well known in the art (cells expressing naturally or inducibly expressing olfactory receptors can be used to express the hybrid olfactory receptors of the invention to screen for potential odorants and odorant effect on cell physiology, as described below). For example, cells can be identified by olfactory marker protein (OMP), an abundant cytoplasmic protein expressed almost exclusively in mature olfactory sensory neurons (see, e.g., Buiakova (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:9858-9863). Shirley (1983) Eur. J. Biochem. 32:485-494, describes a rat olfactory preparation suitable for biochemical studies in vitro on olfactory mechanisms. Cultures of adult rat olfactory receptor neurons are described by Vargas (1999) Chem. Senses 24:211-216. Because these cultured neurons exhibit typical voltage-gated currents and are responsive to application of odorants, they can also be used to express the hybrid olfactory receptors of the invention for odorant screening (endogenous olfactory receptor can be initially blocked, if desired, by, e.g., antisense, knockout, and the like). U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,266 describes culturing human olfactory neurons for neurotoxicity tests and screening. Murrell (1999) J. Neurosci. 19:8260-8270 describes differentiated olfactory receptor-expressing cells in culture that respond to odorants, as measured by an influx of calcium.

Genetic Engineering of Hybrid Receptor-encoding Sequences

The invention provides hybrid protein-coding sequences comprising polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids fused to the translocation sequences of the invention. Also provided are hybrid olfactory receptors comprising the translocation motifs and odorant/ligand-binding domains of olfactory receptors. These nucleic acid sequences can be operably linked to transcriptional or translational control elements, e.g., transcription and translation initiation sequences, promoters and enhancers, transcription and translation terminators, polyadenylation sequences, and other sequences useful for transcribing DNA into RNA. In construction of recombinant expression cassettes, vectors, transgenics, of the invention, a promoter fragment can be employed to direct expression of the desired nucleic acid in all tissues. Olfactory cell-specific transcriptional elements can also be used to express the fusion polypeptide receptor of the invention, including, e.g., a 6.7 kb region upstream of the M4 olfactory receptor coding region. This region was sufficient to direct expression in olfactory epithelium with wild type zonal restriction and distributed neuronal expression for endogenous olfactory receptors (Qasba (1998) J. Neurosci. 18:227-236). Receptor genes are normally expressed in a small subset of neurons throughout a zonally restricted region of the sensory epithelium. The transcriptional or translational control elements can be isolated from natural sources, obtained from such sources as ATCC or GenBank libraries, or prepared by synthetic or recombinant methods.

The invention provides fusion proteins comprising the translocation motif of the invention. However, these fusion proteins can also comprise additional element for, e.g., protein detection, purification, or other applications. Detection and purification facilitating domains include, e.g., metal chelating peptides such as polyhistidine tracts or histidine-tryptophan modules or other domains that allow purification on immobilized metals; maltose binding protein; protein A domains that allow purification on immobilized immunoglobulin; or the domain utilized in the FLAGS extension/affinity purification system (Immunex Corp, Seattle Wash.).

The inclusion of a cleavable linker sequences such as Factor Xa (see, e.g., Ottavi (1998) Biochimie 80:289-293), subtilisin protease recognition motif (see, e.g., Polyak (1997) Protein Eng. 10:615-619); enterokinase (Invitrogen, San Diego Calif.), and the like, between a translocation domain of the invention (for efficient plasma membrane expression) and the rest of the newly translated polypeptide may be useful to facilitate purification. For example, one construct can include a polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequence linked to six histidine residues followed by a thioredoxin, an enterokinase cleavage site (see, e.g., Williams (1995) Biochemistry 34:1787-1797), and an amino terminal translocation domain. The histidine residues facilitate detection and purification while the enterokinase cleavage site provides a means for purifying the desired protein(s) from the remainder of the fusion protein. Technology pertaining to vectors encoding fusion proteins and application of fusion proteins are well described in the scientific and patent literature, see e.g., Kroll (1993) DNA Cell. Biol., 12:441-53.

Cloning and Construction of Expression Vectors

The invention provides libraries of expression vectors comprising the olfactory binding domain-encoding sequences of the invention. These nucleic acids may be introduced into a genome or into the cytoplasm or a nucleus of a cell and expressed by a variety of conventional techniques, well described in the scientific and patent literature. See, e.g., Roberts (1987) Nature 328:731; Berger (1987) supra; Schneider (1995) Protein Expr. Purif. 6435:10; Sambrook, Tijssen or Ausubel. Product information from manufacturers of biological reagents and experimental equipment also provide information regarding known biological methods. The vectors can be isolated from natural sources, obtained from such sources as ATCC or GenBank libraries, or prepared by synthetic or recombinant methods.

The nucleic acids of the invention can be expressed in expression cassettes, vectors or viruses which are stably or transiently expressed in cells (e.g., episomal expression systems). Selection markers can be incorporated into expression cassettes and vectors to confer a selectable phenotype on transformed cells and sequences. For example, selection markers can code for episomal maintenance and replication such that integration into the host genome is not required. For example, the marker may encode antibiotic resistance (e.g., chloramphenicol, kanamycin, G418, bleomycin, hygromycin) or herbicide resistance (e.g., chlorosulfuron or Basta) to permit selection of those cells transformed with the desired DNA sequences (see, e.g., Blondelet-Rouault (1997) Gene 190:315-317; Aubrecht (1997) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 281:992-997). Because selectable marker genes conferring resistance to substrates like neomycin or hygromycin can only be utilized in tissue culture, chemoresistance genes are also used as selectable markers in vitro and in vivo.

Structure of Seven-Transmembrane Receptors

The invention provides a chimeric nucleic acid sequence encoding an odorant/ligand binding domain within any 7-transmembrane polypeptide. 7-transmembrane receptors belong to a superfamily of transmembrane (TM) proteins having seven domains that transverse a plasma membrane seven times. Each of the seven domains spans the plasma membrane (TM I to TM VII). Because 7-transmembrane receptor polypeptides have similar primary sequences and secondary and tertiary structures, structural domains (e.g., TM domains) can be readily identified by sequence analysis. For example, homology modeling, Fourier analysis and helical periodicity detection can identify and characterize the seven domains within a 7-transmembrane receptor sequence. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithms can be used to assess the dominant periods that characterize profiles of the hydrophobicity and variability of analyzed sequences. To predict TM domains and their boundaries and topology, a “neural network algorithm” by “PHD server” can be used, as done by Pilpel (1999) Protein Science 8:969-977; Rost (1995) Protein Sci. 4:521-533. Periodicity detection enhancement and alpha helical periodicity index can be done as by, e.g., Donnelly (1993) Protein Sci. 2:55-70. Other alignment and modeling algorithms are well known in the art, see, e.g., Peitsch (1996) Receptors Channels 4:161-164; Cronet (1993) Protein Eng. 6:59-64 (homology and “discover modeling” ); and on-line from the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Olfactory Gene and Receptors

The library sequences of the invention include receptor sequences that correspond to TM ligand-binding domains, including, e.g., TM II to VII, TM II to VI, TM III to VII, and TM III to VII, that have been amplified (e.g., PCR) from mRNA of or cDNA derived from, e.g., olfactory receptor-expressing neurons or genomic DNA. Olfactory (or “odorant”) receptors belong to the 7-transmembrane receptor superfamily; however they are also recognized as a distinct family of receptors. Olfactory receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors (Raming (1993) Nature 361:353-356). Genes encoding the olfactory receptors are active primarily in olfactory neurons (Axel (1995) Sci. Amer. 273:154-159). Individual olfactory receptor types are expressed in subsets of cells distributed in distinct zones of the olfactory epithelium (Breer (1994) Semin. Cell Biol. 5:25-32). The human genome contains thousands of genes that encode a diverse repertoire of olfactory receptors (Rouquier (1998) Nat. Genet. 18:243-250; Trask (1998) Hum. Mol. Genet. 7:2007-2020).

Identifying Olfactory Receptor TM Domain Structures and Sequences

The invention provides libraries of olfactory receptor odorant/ligand-binding TM domain sequences. These sequence can include a various TM domains or variations thereof, as describe above. These sequences can be derived from any 7-transmembrane receptor. Because these polypeptides have similar primary sequences and secondary and tertiary structures, the seven domains can be identified by various analyses well known in the art, including, e.g., homology modeling, Fourier analysis and helical periodicity (see, e.g., Pilpel (1999) supra), as described above. Using this information sequences flanking the seven domains can be identified and used to designed degenerate primers for amplification of various combinations of TM regions and subsequences for use in the compositions and methods of the invention.

Measuring Changes in Physiologic Activity Due to Olfactory Receptor-Ligand Binding

The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a test compound specifically binds to a mammalian olfactory receptor in vitro or in vivo. The invention also provides methods and compositions for determining whether a test compound is neurotoxic to an olfactory neuron expressing an olfactory transmembrane receptor polypeptide. Any aspect of cell physiology can be monitored to assess the effect of odorant/ligand binding to a chimeric olfactory receptor of the invention.

Olfactory receptors are normally located on the specialized cilia of olfactory neurons. These receptors bind odorants and initiate the transduction of chemical stimuli into electrical signals. This process can involve a G protein-coupled activation of an adenylyl cyclase, which leads to a rise in cAMP and consequently the opening of cyclic nucleotide-activated, non-selective cation channels. These open channels produce a cation influx that results in the depolarization of the olfactory neuron. Another olfactory transduction mechanism can also include the generation of IP₃ and the opening of IP₃-activated channels on the ciliary plasma membrane. Electro-olfactograms can measure the mass response of sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium (discussed below).

Cell Culture Assays

The invention provides methods and compositions for expressing the chimeric olfactory receptors of the invention in cells to screen for odorants that can specifically bind and the effect (e.g., biochemical or electrophysiological) of such binding on cell physiology. Any cell expression system can be used, e.g., mammalian cell expression systems. Cells that normally express olfactory receptors can be used, particularly to study the physiological effect of an odorant on a cell. Isolation and/or culturing of such cells and their transformation with chimeric olfactory receptor-expressing sequences of the invention can be done with routine methods, as described above. See, e.g., description of cultured neurons that exhibit typical voltage-gated currents and are responsive to application of odorants. Vargas (1999) supra; olfactory neurons from rats (Coon (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1703-1707). However, the neurotoxicity of various agents to humans could be more accurately determined using cultured human neurons than cultured non-human neurons.

To evaluate electrophysiologic effects of ligand binding to cell-expressed chimeric receptor, patch-clamping of individual cells can be done. Patch-clamp recordings of the olfactory receptor cell membrane can measure membrane conductances. Some conductances are gated by odorants in the cilia and depolarize the cell through cAMP- or IP3-sensitive channels, depending on the species. Other conductances are activated by membrane depolarization and/or an increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration. See, e.g., Trotier (1994) Semin. Cell Biol. 5:47-54.

Changes in calcium ion levels in the cell after exposure of the cell to known or potential odorant/ligands can be accomplished by a variety of means. For example, cells can be pre-loaded with reagents sensitive to calcium ion transients, e.g., Fura-2 (see, e.g., Rawson (1997) J. Neurophysiol. 77:1606-1613; Restrepo (1996) J. Neurobiol. 30:37-48). Measurement of calcium transients is described in detail in Example 1, below. For example, Kashiwayanagi (1996) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 225:666-671 measured both of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate induces inward currents and Ca2+ uptake in frog olfactory receptor cells.

Other physiologic mechanisms can also be measured, e.g., plasma membrane homeostasis parameters (including lipid second messengers), cellular pH changes (see, e.g., Silver (1998) Methods Cell Biol. 56:237-251), G proteins (see, e.g., Quartara (1997) Neuropeptides 31:537-563); cAMP, and the like.

Non-human Animal Assays

The invention also provides non-human animals expressing one or more hybrid olfactory receptor sequences of the invention, particularly human olfactory receptor sequences. Such expression can be used to determine whether a test compound specifically binds to a mammalian olfactory transmembrane receptor polypeptide in vivo by contacting a non-human animal stably or transiently infected with a nucleic acid derived from the library of the invention with a test compound and determining whether the animal reacts to the test compound by specifically binding to the receptor polypeptide.

Use of the translocation domains of the invention in the fusion polypeptides generates a cell expressing high levels of olfactory receptor. Animals infected with the vectors of the invention are particularly useful for assays to identify and characterize odorants/ligands that can bind to a specific or sets of receptors. Such vector-infected animals expressing libraries of human olfactory sequences can be used for in vivo screening of odorants and their effect on, e.g., cell physiology (e.g., on olfactory neurons), on the CNS (e.g., olfactory bulb activity), or behavior.

Means to infect/express the libraries of nucleic acids and vectors of the invention are well known in the art, as described above. A variety of individual cell, organ or whole animal parameters can be measured by a variety of means. For example, recording of stimulant-induced waves (bulbar responses) from the main olfactory bulb or accessory olfactory bulb is a useful tool for measuring quantitative stable olfactory responses. When electrodes are located on the olfactory bulb surface it is possible to record stable responses over a period of several days (see, e.g., Kashiwayanagi (1997) Brain Res. Brain Res. Protoc. 1:287-291). In this study, electroolfactogram recordings were made with a four-electrode assembly from the olfactory epithelium overlying the endoturbinate bones facing the nasal septum. Four electrodes were fixed along the dorsal-to-ventral axis of one turbinate bone or were placed in corresponding positions on four turbinate bones and moved together up toward the top of the bone. See also, Scott (1997) J. Neurophysiol. 77:1950-1962; Scott (1996) J. Neurophysiol. 75:2036-2049; Ezeh (1995) J. Neurophysiol. 73:2207-2220. In other systems, fluorescence changes in nasal epithelium can be measured using the dye di-4-ANEPPS, which is applied on the rat's nasal septum and medial surface of the turbinates (see, e.g., Youngentob (1995) J. Neurophysiol. 73:387-398). Extracellular potassium activity (aK) measurements can also be carried out in in vivo. An increase in aK can be measured in the mucus and the proximal part of the nasal epithelium (see, e.g., Khayari (1991) Brain Res. 539:1-5).

The chimeric olfactory receptor of the invention can be expressed in animal nasal epithelium by delivery with an infecting agent, e.g., adenovirus expression vector. Recombinant adenovirus-mediated expression of a recombinant gene in olfactory epithelium using green fluorescent protein as a marker is described by, e.g., Touhara (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:4040-4045.

Transgenic Non-human Animals Incorporating Hybrid Olfactory Receptors

The invention also provides non-human animals genetically engineered to express one or more hybrid olfactory receptor sequences of the invention, particularly human olfactory receptor sequences. Because the translocation domains of the invention in the fusion polypeptides generates an animal expressing high levels of olfactory receptor, these animals and their progeny are particularly useful for assays to identify and characterize odorants/ligands that can bind to a specific or sets of receptors.

The endogenous olfactory receptor genes can remain functional and wild-type (native) activity can still be present. In other situations, where it is desirable that all olfactory receptor activity is by the introduced exogenous hybrid receptor, use of a knockout line is preferred. Methods for the construction of non-human transgenic animals, particularly transgenic mice, and the selection and preparation of recombinant constructs for generating transformed cells are well known in the art.

Construction of a “knockout” cell and animal is based on the premise that the level of expression of a particular gene in a mammalian cell can be decreased or completely abrogated by introducing into the genome a new DNA sequence that serves to interrupt some portion of the DNA sequence of the gene to be suppressed. Also, “gene trap insertion” can be used to disrupt a host gene, and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can be used to produce knockout transgenic animals (see, e.g., Holzschu (1997) Transgenic Res 6: 97-106). The insertion of the exogenous sequence is typically by homologous recombination between complementary nucleic acid sequences. The exogenous sequence is some portion of the target gene to be modified, such as exonic, intronic or transcriptional regulatory sequences, or any genomic sequence which is able to affect the level of the target gene's expression; or a combination thereof. Gene targeting via homologous recombination in pluripotential embryonic stem cells allows one to modify precisely the genomic sequence of interest. Any technique can be used to create, screen for, propagate, a knockout animal, e.g., see Bijvoet (1998) Hum. Mol. Genet. 7:53-62; Moreadith (1997) J. Mol. Med. 75:208-216; Tojo (1995) Cytotechnology 19:161-165; Mudgett (1995) Methods Mol. Biol. 48:167-184; Longo (1997) Transgenic Res. 6:321-328; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,616,491; 5,464,764; 5,631,153; 5,487,992; 5,627,059; 5,272,071; and, WO 91/09955, WO 93/09222, WO 96/29411, WO 95/31560, and WO 91/12650.

The nucleic acid libraries of the invention can also be used as reagents to produce “knockout” human cells and their progeny.

Kits

The invention provides kits that contain degenerate primer pairs of the invention. cDNA libraries from olfactory epithelium can also be included. The kits can contain recombinant adenoviruses comprising a single construct or libraries of expression vectors of the invention. The kit can also contain replication-competent cells, such as 293 cells. The kit can contain instructional material teaching methodologies, e.g., means to amplify nucleic acid, infect animals, and the like.

It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are offered to illustrate, but not to limit the claimed invention.

Example 1 Identification of Odorant/Ligands for Olfactory Receptors with Binding Sites Generated by PCR Amplification with Degenerate Primers by Functional Expression of Libraries of the Receptors in Human Cell Lines

The following example sets forth the generation of an expression plasmid library containing a large and diverse repertoire of nucleic acids encoding odorant/ligand binding regions comprising transmembrane (TM) II-VII regions of mouse olfactory receptor sequences. From this library, 80 chimeric receptors were tested against 26 odorants after transient transfection into the human cell line HEK-293. Three receptors were identified that responded to micromolar concentrations of carvone, (−) citronellal and limonene, respectively.

A PCR-based amplification strategy taking advantage of the homology shared among olfactory receptors at the beginning of TM II and the end of TM VII was used to generate a library containing a large number of olfactory-receptor sequences. The structure of the overall construct, pCMV-Rho/M4_(NC), is shown in FIG. 1A. The degenerate oligonucleotides are flanked by the coding sequences for the appropriate regions of the mouse M4 olfactory receptor (described by, e.g., Qasba (1998) J. Neurosci. 18:227-236).

Making a Chimeric Receptor Cassette and Vector for Eukaryotic Expression

Chimeric receptor expression vectors were assembled from a pBK-CMV plasmid (Stratagene, San Diego, Calif.) modified such that the lac Z sequences between nucleotides 1098 and 1300 were deleted. A PCR fragment consisting of 45 nucleotides upstream of the bovine rhodopsin initiation codon and the first 60 nucleotides of the coding region (designated “rho-tag” in FIG. 1A) was introduced between the BamHI and EcoRI sites. Restriction fragments corresponding to the first 57 amino acids (the N-terminus to TM II, EcoRI/PstI restriction sites) (SEQ ID NO: 4) and to the last 22 amino acids (BspEI/XbaI restriction sites) (SEQ ID NO: 5) of the mouse M4 olfactory receptor were cloned into the rhodopsin-tag (“rho-tag”) vector. The resulting vector (designated pCMV-Rho/M4_(NC)) possesses unique PstI and BspEI sites at the beginning of TM II and the end of TM VII, respectively (see FIG. 1A).

PCR Amplification

The mouse olfactory-receptor transmembrane II-VII library was amplified using PCR. The PCR reaction mixture contained: Taq and Pfu polymerase (Stratagene, San Diego, Calif.) 0.5 U each, 0.2 mM dNTP, 1 μM of each primer (degenerate oligonucleotides SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2) and either 100 ng mouse genomic DNA (β₂-adrenergic receptor sequence), 10 ng plasmid template DNA, or 50 to 100 ng 1^(st) strand cDNA template prepared from mouse C57BL/6J olfactory epithelium. One amplification protocol was one cycle of 2 min at 94° C.; 30 cycles at (55° C., 72° C., 94° C.), 1 min each; 1 cycle at (55° C., 72° C.), 10 min. A second amplification protocol was 1 cycle for 2 min at 94° C.; 34 cycles at (45° C., 72° C., 94° C.), 1 min each; and 1 cycle at (45° C., 72° C.), 10 min. The second procotol, having a lower hybridization temperature (45° C. versus 55° C.) generated an equally diverse library of binding domains. A library of PCR products of about 0.7 kilobase was generated.

Analysis of Amplified Odorant/Ligand-binding Sequence Library

Sequencing and sequence identity analysis of 26 randomly chosen PCR amplification products was performed. Deduced amino acid sequences were aligned by the ClustalW algorithm using default values established by DNAstar alignment software (DNASTAR, Inc., Madison, Wis.) (see, e.g., Burland (2000) Methods Mol. Biol. 132:71-91).

This analysis revealed that all but three of the sequenced odorant/ligand binding region inserts were distinct polypeptide-coding receptor sequences. Exemplary odorant/ligand binding region nucleic acid sequences generated by amplification of Mus musculus cDNA, and the respective deduced amino acid sequences, include

(a) (SEQ ID NO:11)   1 agtgtcttat ccattctgga tatgggctat gtcaccacca cagtgcccca gatgctggta  61 catctggtct gtaagaagaa gaccatatcc tatgttggat gtgtggctca gatgtacatc 121 ttcctgatgc tgggaatcac cgagtcttgg ctgtttgcaa tcatggccta tgataggtat 181 gtggccattt gccatcccct cagatacaaa gtcatcatga gtcctttgct gcgcgggtca 241 ctggtagcct tctgtgggtt ctggggtatc acctgtgccc tgatatatac tgtttctgct 301 atgattcttc cctactgtgg ccccaatgag atcaaccact tcttctgtga agtgcctgct 361 gtcctgaagc tggcctgcgc agacacctct cccaatgacc aggtagactt catcctaggc 421 tttatccttc ttttggtccc actctccctc atcattgttg tctacatcaa tatctttgct 481 gctatcttga gaatccgttc aactcaaggg aggatcaagg ccttctccac ctgtgtgtcc 541 cacatcactg tggtcaccat gttctccatc ccgtgtatgg ttatgtatat gaggcctggc 601 tctgagtcct ccccagaaga ggacaagaag ttggctctgt tctacaacgt catctctgcc 661 ttcctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:12) SVLSILDMGYVTTTVPQMLVHLVCKKKTISYVGCVAQMYIFLML GITESWLFAIMAYDRYVAICHPLRYKVIMSPLLRGSLVAFCGFWGITCALIYTVSAMI LPYCGPNEINHFFCEVPAVLKLACADTSPNDQVDFILGFILLLVPLSLIIVVYINIFA AILRIRSTQGRIKAFSTCVSHITVVTMFSIPCMVMYMRPGSESSPEEDKKLALFYNVI SAFLN (b) (SEQ ID NO:13)   1 tgcaacctgg ccaccatgga cattgtgtgc accccctctg tgattcctaa ggccctgatt  61 ggcctagtgt ctgaagaaaa caccatctcc ttcaaaggat gcatggctca gctcttcttt 121 cttctgtggt ccttgtcttc ggagctgctg ctgctcacgg tcatggccta tgaccgctat 181 gtggccatct gctttcccct gcactacagc tctagaatga gcccacagct ctgtggggcc 241 ctggccgtgg gtgtatggtc catctgtgct gtgaatgcat ctgtgcacac tggcctgatg 301 acacggctgt cattctgtgg ccccaaggtc atcacccact tcttctgtga gattccccca 361 ctcctcctgc tttcctgtag tcccacatac attaatagcg ttatgacact tgtggcagat 421 gccttttatg ggtgcatcaa ctttgtgcta accttgttat cctatggctg catcattgcc 481 agtgttctgc gcatgcgttc tgctgagggc aagaggaagg ccttttctac ctgttcatcc 541 cacctcatcg tggtctcagt gtactactca tctgtgttct gtgcctatgt cagtcctgcc 601 tccagctaca gcccagaaag aagcaaagtt acctccgtgc tgtactcgat cctcagccca 661 accctgaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:14) CNLATMDIVCTPSVIPKALIGLVSEENTISFKGCMAQLFFLLWS LSSELLLLTVMAYDRYVAICFPLHYSSRMSPQLCGALAVGVWSICAVNASVHTGLMTR LSFCGPKVITHFFCEIPPLLLLSCSPTYINSVMTLVADAFYGCINFVLTLLSYGCIIA SVLRMRSAEGKRKAFSTCSSHLIVVSVYYSSVFCAYVSPASSYSPERSKVTSVLYSIL SPTLN (c) (SEQ ID NO:15)   1 tgcaacctgg ccaccatgga tattatctgc acctcctctg tgctgcccaa ggcgctggtt  61 ggtctactat ctgaggaaaa caccatctcc tttaaagggt gcatggccca gctcttcttc 121 cttgtgtggt ccttgtcttc agagctgctg ctgctcacag tcatggccta tgaccgctat 181 gtggccatct gctttcccct gcactacagc tctagaatga gcccacagtt gtgtggggct 241 ctggccatgg gtgtatggtc catctgtgct ctgaatgcat ctatcaacac tggtctgatg 301 acacggctgt cattctgtgg acccaaggtc atcacccact tcttctgtga gattccccca 361 ctccttctgc tctcctgtag ccccacatac gtaaacagca ttatgactct aatagcagat 421 gtcttctatg gaggcatcaa ttttgtgctt accttactat cctatggctg catcattgcc 481 agcatcctgc gcatgcgttc tgctgagggc aagaggaagg ccttttctac ctgctcatcc 541 cacctcatcg tggtctctgt gtactactca tctgtgttct gtgcctatgt cagccctgca 601 tccagctata gcccagaaag aagcaaagtt acctctgtgt tgtactcatt cctcagccca 661 accctgaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:16) CNLATMDIICTSSVLPKALVGLLSEENTISFKGCMAQLFFLVWS LSSELLLLTVMAYDRYVAICFPLHYSSRMSPQLCGALAMGVWSICALNASINTGLMTR LSFCGPKVITHFFCEIPPLLLLSCSPTYVNSIMTLIADVFYGGINFVLTLLSYGCIIA SILRMRSAEGKRKAFSTCSSHLIVVSVYYSSVFCAYVSPASSYSPERSKVTSVLYSFL SPTLN (d) (SEQ ID NO:17)   1 gccacccttt cctgtgttga catcctcttc acctccacca cagtgcccaa ggccctagtg  61 aacatccaca cccaaagcag gacaatctcc tatgcaggat gcctggtcca gctctatttt 121 ttcctgactt ttggagacat ggacatcttt ctcctggcca caatggccta tgaccgcttt 181 gtagctattt gtcaccctct ccactatagg atgatcatga gcttccagcg ctgctcactc 241 ttagtgacag tctgttggac ccttacaacc gttgtggcca tgacacacac cttcctcata 301 ttccggctct ccttctgctc tcagaaggtc attccagact tcttctgtga cctgggaccc 361 ctaatgaaga tcgcttgctc tgaaacccgg atcaatgagc ttgtgcttct cttcctgggg 421 ggtgcagtca tcttaatccc ctttttgctc atccttatgt cttatatccg cattgtttca 481 gccatcctca gggtcccttc tgcccaagga aggcgtaagg ccttttctac ctgtgggtcc 541 cacctttctg tggtggccct attctttggg actgtgataa gggcttatct atgtccttca 601 tcctcttcct ctaactcagt ggtagaggac acagcagcag ctgtcatgta tacagtggtg 661 actcccgtgc tgaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:18) ATLSCVDILFTSTTVPKALVNIHTQSRTISYAGCLVQLYFFLTF GDMDIFLLATMAYDRFVAICHPLHYRMIMSFQRCSLLVTVCWTLTTVVAMTHTFLIFR LSFCSQKVIPDFFCDLGPLMKIACSETRINELVLLFLGGAVILIPFLLILMSYIRIVS AILRVPSAQGRRKAFSTCGSHLSVVALFFGTVIRAYLCPSSSSSNSVVEDTAAAVMYT VVTPVLN (e) (SEQ ID NO:19)   1 agtcagctct ccctcatgga cctcatgctg gtctgtaaca ttgtgccaaa gatggcagtc  61 aacttcctgt ctggcaggaa gtccatctct tttgccggct gtggcataca aatcggattt 121 tttgtctctc ttgtgggatc agagggtctc ttgttaggac tcatggctta tgatcgctat 181 gtggccatta gccacccact tcactatccc attctcatga gccaaaaggt ctgtctccag 241 attgctggaa gttcctgggc ttttgggatc cttgatggaa taattcagat ggtggcagcc 301 atgagcctgc cctactgtgg ctcacggtat atagatcact tcttctgtga agtgccggct 361 ttactgaagc tggcctgtgc agacacctcc cttttcgaca ccctgctctt tgcttgctgt 421 gtctttatgc tgcttcttcc tttctcgatc attgtgactt cctatgctcg catcttgggg 481 gctgtgctcc gtatgcactc tgcccagtcc cgaaaaaagg ccctggccac ttgttcctcc 541 cacctgacag ctgtctctct cttctacggg gcagcaatgt tcatctacct gaggccaagg 601 cgatatcgcg ctcctagcca tgacaaagtt gtctcaatct tctacacagt tcttactcct 661 atgctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:20) SQLSLMDLMLVCNIVPKMAVNFLSGRKSISFAGCGIQIGFFVSL VGSEGLLLGLMAYDRYVAISHPLHYPILMSQKVCLQIAGSSWAFGILDGIIQMVAAMS LPYCGSRYIDHFFCEVPALLKLACADTSLFDTLLFACCVFMLLLPFSIIVTSYARILG AVLRMHSAQSRKKALATCSSHLTAVSLFYGAAMFIYLRPRRYRAPSHDKVVSIFYTVL TPMLN (f) (SEQ ID NO:21)   1 tacaaccttt cattgtctga catgggcttt agcagcacca caatccccaa aatgctgata  61 aacttgcatg cacataagag atccacaaca tatgctgaat gcctaactca ggtatctttc 121 tttattcttt ttgggtgtat ggacagcttt ctactggcag tgatggcata tgaccgatgg 181 gtggccattt gtcaccctct acactaccaa gtcattctga atccttgtcg gtgtagatat 241 ttggttgtaa tgtcattttg tatcagtctc attgattcac aggtgcactg ctttatggtg 301 tcacaactaa cattttgtac taatatagaa atccctcatt tcttctgtga tgttccagaa 361 cttgtaaaac ttgcttgttc taacactact atcaatgaca tagccatgtt tctttcaagc 421 atcattgttg gattcctccc tgcctcagga atattttact cctactataa aattacttct 481 tctattttta gagttccatc actgttaggg aaatataaag ccttctctac ctgtggatct 541 cacctgtcag ttgtttgcct attttatgga acaggtatag gagtttacct cagttccaca 601 gtttctggtt cttccaggga aagtatggta gcttcggtaa tgtatacaat ggtggttcct 661 atgatgaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:22) YNLSLSDMGFSSTTIPKMLINLHAHKRSTTYAECLTQVSFFILF GCMDSFLLAVMAYDRWVAICHPLHYQVILNPCRCRYLVVMSFCISLIDSQVHCFMVSQ LTFCTNIEIPHFFCDVPELVKLACSNTTINDIAMFLSSIIVGFLPASGIFYSYYKITS SIFRVPSLLGKYKAFSTCGSHLSVVCLFYGTGIGVYLSSTVSGSSRESMVASVMYTMV VPMMN (g) (SEQ ID NO:23)   1 agtcagctct ccctcatgga cctcatgctg gtctgtaaca ttgtgccaaa gatggcagtc  61 aacttcctgt ctggcaggaa gtccatctct tttgccggct gtggcataca aatcggattt 121 tttgtctctc ttgtgggatc agagggtctc ttgttaggac tcatggctta tgatcgctat 181 gtggccatta gccacccact tcactatccc attctcatga gccaaaaggt ctgtctccag 241 attgctggaa gttcctgggc ttttgggatc cttgatggaa taattcagat ggtggcagcc 301 atgagcctgc cctactgtgg ctcacggtat atagatcact tcttctgtga agtgccggct 361 ttactgaagc tggcctgtgc agacacctcc cttttcgaca ccctgctctt tgcttgctgt 421 gtctttatgc tgcttcttcc tttctcgatc attgtgactt cctatgctcg catcttgggg 481 actgtgctcc gtatgcactc tgcccagtcc cgaaaaaagg ccctggccac ttgttcctcc 541 cacctgacag ctgtctctct cttctacggg gcagcaatgt tcatctacct gaggccaagg 601 cgatatcgcg ctcctagcca tgacaaagtt gtctcaatct tctacacagt tcttactcct 661 atgctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:24) SQLSLMDLMLVCNIVPKMAVNFLSGRKSISFAGCGIQIGFFVSL VGSEGLLLGLMAYDRYVAISHPLHYPILMSQKVCLQIAGSSWAFGILDGIIQMVAAMS LPYCGSRYIDHFFCEVPALLKLACADTSLFDTLLFACCVFMLLLPFSIIVTSYARILG TVLRMHSAQSRKKALATCSSHLTAVSLFYGAAMFIYLRPRRYRAPSHDKVVSIFYTVL TPMLN (h) (SEQ ID NO:25)   1 tctaatctgt cctttgtgga catctgcttc acttccacca ctgttccaca gatgctggta  61 aacattcaca cacaaagcaa ggccatcacc tatgcaggct gcatcatcca aatgtacttc 121 ttactgcttt tttcagggtt agacatcttt ctgctgactg tgatggccta tgaccgctat 181 gtggccatct gtcaccccct gcattacatg atcatcatga gcacaagacg ctgtggattg 241 atgattctgg catgctggat tataggtgtt ataaattccc tgttacacac ctttttggtg 301 ttacggctgt cattctgcac aaacttggaa atcccccatt ttttctgtga acttaatcaa 361 gttgtacacc aggcctgttc tgacaccttt cttaatgata tggtaattta cattacagct 421 atgctactgg ctgttggccc cttctctggt atcctttact cttactctag gatagtatcc 481 tccatttgtg caatctcctc agtgcagggg aagtacaaag cattttccac ctgtgcatct 541 cacctctcag ttgtctcctt attttattgc accctcctgg gagtgtacct cagctctgct 601 gtgacccaaa actcacatgc tactgcaaca gcttcattga tgtacactgt ggtcaccccc 661 atgctgaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:26) SNLSFVDICFTSTTVPQMLVNIHTQSKAITYAGCIIQMYFLLLF SGLDIFLLTVMAYDRYVAICHPLHYMIIMSTRRCGLMILACWIIGVINSLLHTFLVLR LSFCTNLEIPHFFCELNQVVHQACSDTFLNDMVIYITAMLLAVGPFSGILYSYSRIVS SICAISSVQGKYKAFSTCASHLSVVSLFYCTLLGVYLSSAVTQNSHATATASLMYTVV TPMLN (i) (SEQ ID NO:27)   1 agtcagctct ccctcatgga cctcatgctg gtctgtaaca ttgtgccaaa gatggcagtc  61 aacttcctgt ctggcaggaa gtccatctct tttgccggct gtggcataca aatcggattt 121 tttgtctctc ttgtgggatc agagggtctc ttgttaggac tcatggctta tgatcgctat 181 gtggccatta gccacccact tcactatccc attctcatga gccaaaaggt ctgtctccag 241 attgctggaa gttcctgggc ttttgggatc cttgatggaa taattcagat ggtggcagcc 301 atgagcctgc cctactgtgg ctcacggtat atagatcact tcttctgtga agtgccggct 361 ttactgaagc tggcctgtgc agacacctcc cttttcgaca ccctgctctt tgcttgctgt 421 gtctttatgc tgcttcttcc tttctcgatc attgtgactt cctatgctcg catcttgggg 481 gctgtgctcc gtatgcactc tgcccagtcc cgaaaaaagg ccctggccac ttgttcctcc 541 cacctgacag ctgtctctct cttctacggg gcagcaatgt tcatctacct gaggccaagg 601 cgatatcgcg ctcctagcca tgacaaagtt gtctcaatct tctacacagt tcttactcct 661 atgctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:28) SQLSLMDLMLVCNIVPKMAVNFLSGRKSISFAGCGIQIGFFVSL VGSEGLLLGLMAYDRYVAISHPLHYPILMSQKVCLQIAGSSWAFGILDGIIQMVAAMS LPYCGSRYIDHFFCEVPALLKLACADTSLFDTLLFACCVFMLLLPFSIIVTSYARILG AVLRMHSAQSRKKALATCSSHLTAVSLFYGAAMFIYLRPRRYRAPSHDKVVSIFYTVL TPMLN (j) (SEQ ID NO:29)   1 tgtgccctct ccatctctga gattttctac acctttgcca tcatcccacg catgttggct  61 gacctgctca ccacacttca ctccatcgcc tttctggcct gtgccagcca gatgttcttc 121 tccttcacat ttggcttcac ccattccttt ctactcaccg tcatgggcta tgaccgctac 181 gtggccatct gtcacccact gagatacaat gtgctcatga gcccccgtgg ctgtgcctgc 241 ctggtagcct ggtcctgggt tggtggatca ttcatgggga cagtggtgac gacagccatt 301 ttcaacctca cattctgtgg acccaatgag atccaccatt ttacttgtca tgttccacct 361 ctattgaagt tggcatgcgg agagaatgta ctggaggtgg caaagggtgt agaaatagtg 421 tgcatcacag ccctcctggg ctgctttctc ctcatcctcc tctcatatgc cttcattgtg 481 gttaccatct tgaagatacc atcagctgag ggtcggcaca aggctttctc cacatgtgca 541 tcccacctca cagtggtggt tgtacattat ggctttgctt ctgtcattta cctcaagcct 601 aagggcccca agtctctgga aggagatact ctgatgggca tcacctacac agtcctcacc 661 cccttcctta gt atgctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:30) CALSISEIFYTFAIIPRMLADLLTTLHSIAFLACASQMFFSFTF GFTHSFLLTVMGYDRYVAICHPLRYNVLMSPRGCACLVAWSWVGGSFMGTVVTTAIFN LTFCGPNEIHHFTCHVPPLLKLACGENVLEVAKGVEIVCITALLGCFLLILLSYAFIV VTILKIPSAEGRHKAFSTCASHLTVVVVHYGFASVIYLKPKGPKSLEGDTLMGITYTV LTPFLS (k) (SEQ ID NO:31)   1 tgcaacttag cgaccatgga tattatctgc acctcctctg tactgcccaa ggcgctggtt  61 ggtctactgt ctgaggaaaa caccacctcc ttcaaagggt gcatgactca gctcttcttt 121 cttgtgtggt ctggatcctc tgagctgctg ctgctcacag tcatggccta tgaccgctat 181 gtggccatct gtttgcccct gcattacagc tctaggatga gtccacagct ctgtgggacc 241 tttgccgtgg gtgtatggtc catctgcgca ctaaatgcat ctatcaacac tggtctgatg 301 acacggctgt cattctgtgg ccccaaggtc atcacccact tcttctgtga gattccccca 361 ctcctcctgc tctcctgtag tcctacatat ataaatagcg ttatgactct tgtggcagat 421 gccttttatg gaggcatcaa ttttttactt accttgctat cctatggctg catcattgcc 481 agcatcctgc gcatgcgttc tgctgagggc aagaggaagg ccttttctac ctgctcatcc 541 cacctcattg tggtctctgt gtactactca tctgtgttct gtgcctatgt cagccctgct 601 tctagctaca gcccagaaag aagcaaagtt tcctcagtgc tgtactcagt cctcagccca 661 accctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:32) CNLATMDIICTSSVLPKALVGLLSEENTTSFKGCMTQLFFLVWS GSSELLLLTVMAYDRYVAICLPLHYSSRMSPQLCGTFAVGVWSICALNASINTGLMTR LSFCGPKVITHFFCEIPPLLLLSCSPTYINSVMTLVADAFYGGINFLLTLLSYGCIIA SILRMRSAEGKRKAFSTCSSHLIVVSVYYSSVFCAYVSPASSYSPERSKVSSVLYSVL SPTLN (l) (SEQ ID NO:33)   1 gccaaccttt ccttcgttga tgtctgcttc accaccaatc tcatccccag gctcctggct  61 ggccatgtgg ctggaacaag gaccatctct tatgtccact gcctaactca gacgtacttc 121 ctgatttctt ttgccaatgt ggacaccttt ctgctggctg ccatggccct ggacagattt 181 gtggccatat gctacccact acagtaccac accatcatca ccccccagct ctgtgtgggg 241 ctggcagccg ttgtgtggat gtgctctgcc ctcatctctc tgatgcacac actcctcatg 301 agcagactga gtttctgctc ctccatcccg gagatctctc acttctactg tgatgcttac 361 ctgctcatga agttggcctg ttcagacaca cgagtcaatc aacttgtctt cctgggagct 421 gtggtcctct ttgtggcccc ctgcattctc attgtggtct cttatgtccg aatcaccatg 481 gtggtcctcc agatcccctc tgcaaagggc cggcacaaga cattttccac atgtagctca 541 cacttgtctg tggtcactct gttctatggc acagtactgg gtatctatat acgacctcca 601 gactccttct ccacccagga cacggtagcc accatcatgt atactgtggt tacccccatg 661 ctgaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:34) ANLSFVDVCFTTNLIPRLLAGHVAGTRTISYVHCLTQTYFLISF ANVDTFLLAAMALDRFVAICYPLQYHTIITPQLCVGLAAVVWMCSALISLMHTLLMSR LSFCSSIPEISHFYCDAYLLMKLACSDTRVNQLVFLGAVVLFVAPCILIVVSYVRITM VVLQIPSAKGRHKTFSTCSSHLSVVTLFYGTVLGIYIRPPDSFSTQDTVATIMYTVVT PMLN (m) (SEQ ID NO:35)   1 tgcaacctgg ctaccacgga tattgtgtgc acctcctctg tgattcctaa ggccctgatt  61 ggcctagtat ctgaggaaaa catcatcacc ttcaagggat gtatggccca gctcttcttc 121 cttgcatggg caacatccgc agagctgttg ctgctcacgg tcatggccta tgaccgctat 181 gtggctatct gctttcccct acactacagc tctaggatga gcccacagct ctgtggagca 241 ctggccgtgg gtgtatggtc catcagtgct gtgaatgcat ctgtgcacac tggcctgatg 301 acacggctgt cattctgtgg acccaaggtc atcacccact tcttctgtga gataccccca 361 ctcctcctgc tctcctgtag ttccacatac attaatagtg ttatgacact tgtggcagat 421 gtctttctgg gaggcatcaa cttcatgtta accctgttat cttatggctt catcattgcc 481 agcatcctgc gcatgcgttc tgctgagggc aagaggaagg ccttttctac ctgctcatcc 541 cacctcatcg tggtttctgt gtactactca tctctgttct gtgcctatat cagccctgct 601 tctagctaca gcccagaaag aagcaaagtt tcctcagtgc tgtactcagt cctcagccca 661 accctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:36) CNLATTDIVCTSSVIPKALIGLVSEENIITFKGCMAQLFFLAWA TSAELLLLTVMAYDRYVAICFPLHYSSRMSPQLCGALAVGVWSISAVNASVHTGLMTR LSFCGPKVITHFFCEIPPLLLLSCSSTYINSVMTLVADVFLGGINFMLTLLSYGFIIA SILRMRSAEGKRKAFSTCSSHLIVVSVYYSSLFCAYISPASSYSPERSKVSSVLYSVL SPTLN (n) (SEQ ID NO:37)   1 agcaacctgg cttttgttga tttctgctac tcctctgtca ttacacctaa gatgcttggg  61 aatttcttgt atagcaaaaa tgccatatcc ttcaatgcat gtgctgccca gttaggctgc 121 tttctcacat ttatggtatc agagtgcttg ctcctggctt ccatggcata tgatagatat 181 gcagcaattt gtaaccctct attgtatatg gtcacaatgt ctcctggaat ctgcattcag 241 cttgtagttg tgccctatag ctatagtttc ctcatggcat tgattcacac tcttctaacc 301 ttccgcctat cctattgcca ttctaatatc atcaatcact tctactgtga tgacatgcct 361 cttctcaggc taacttgctc agatactcac tacaagcagc tgtctatttt ggcctgtgct 421 ggaatcacat tcatttcttc tgttctgatt gtttctgtat cctacatgtt cattatttct 481 gccattctga ggatgcgctc agctgaagga agacggaaag ccttttccac ctgtagctct 541 cacatgatgg cagtgagcat attctatgga actcttatct ttatgtactt acagccgagc 601 tctgaccatt ctcttgatac agataagatg gcctctgtct tctacacagt gatcatcccc 661 atgttgaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:38) SNLAFVDFCYSSVITPKMLGNFLYSKNAISFNACAAQLGCFLTF MVSECLLLASMAYDRYAAICNPLLYMVTMSPGICIQLVVVPYSYSFLMALIHTLLTFR LSYCHSNIINHFYCDDMPLLRLTCSDTHYKQLSILACAGITFISSVLIVSVSYMFIIS AILRMRSAEGRRKAFSTCSSHMMAVSIFYGTLIFMYLQPSSDHSLDTDKMASVFYTVI IPMLN (o) (SEQ ID NO:39)   1 agtcacttgt ccttcattga catgatgtac atctcaacca ttgtgcccaa aatgctagtt  61 gattatcttc tagggcaaag gactatttcc tttgtgggat gcacagctca acactttcta 121 tacctcaccc tggtgggagc cgagttcttt cttctgggcc tcatggctta tgatcgttat 181 gtggccatct gcaacccact gaggtaccct gtcctcatga gccgccggat ctgttggatt 241 atcatagcag gctcctggtt tgggggatct ttggatggct tcctcctcac tccaatcacc 301 atgagttttc ctttctgtag atcacgagag attaaccact tcttctgtga ggcacctgct 361 gtgctgaagt tggcatgtgc agacacagcc ctctatgaga cggtgatgta tgtgtgctgc 421 gttctgatgc tgttgattcc tttctctgtg gttatctcat cctatgcgcg gattctggcc 481 actgtctacc atatgagctc tgtggaagga aggaagaaag cgtttgctac ctgctcgtct 541 cacatgactg tggtaacctt gttttatggg gctgccatat acacctatat ggtaccacac 601 tcttaccatt ccccatccca agacaaaatt ttttctgtgt tctataccat tctcacaccc 661 atgctgaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:40) SHLSFIDMMYISTIVPKMLVDYLLGQRTISFVGCTAQHFLYLTL VGAEFFLLGLMAYDRYVAICNPLRYPVLMSRRICWIIIAGSWFGGSLDGFLLTPITMS FPFCRSREINHFFCEAPAVLKLACADTALYETVMYVCCVLMLLIPFSVVISSYARILA TVYHMSSVEGRKKAFATCSSHMTVVTLFYGAAIYTYMVPHSYHSPSQDKIFSVFYTIL TPMLN (p) (SEQ ID NO:41)   1 tgcaacttag cgaccatgga tattatctgc acctcctctg tactgcccaa ggcgctggtt  61 ggtctactgt ctgaggaaaa caccatcccc ttcaaagggt gcatgactca gctcttcttt 121 cttgtgtggt ctggatcctc tgagctgctg ctgctcacag tcatggccta tgaccgctat 181 gtggccatct gtttgcccct gcattacagc tctaggatga gtccacagct ctgtgggacc 241 tttgccgtgg gtgtatggtc catctgcgca ctaaatgcat ctatcaacac tggtctgatg 301 acacggctgt cattctgtgg ccccaaggtc atcacccact tcttctgtga gattccccca 361 ctcctcctgc tctcctgtag tcctacatat ataaatagcg ttatgactct tgtggcagat 421 gccttttatg gaggcatcaa ttttttactt accttgctat cctatggctg catcattgcc 481 agcatcctgc gcatgcgttc tgctgagggc aagaggaagg ccttttctac ctgctcatcc 541 cacctcatcg tggtctctgt gtactactca tctgtgttct gtgcctatat cagtcctggt 601 tccagctaca gcccagaaag aagcaaattt acctcggttt tgtactcagt cctcagccca 661 accctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:42) CNLATMDIICTSSVLPKALVGLLSEENTIPFKGCMTQLFFLVWS GSSELLLLTVMAYDRYVAICLPLHYSSRMSPQLCGTFAVGVWSICALNASINTGLMTR LSFCGPKVITHFFCEIPPLLLLSCSPTYINSVMTLVADAFYGGINFLLTLLSYGCIIA SILRMRSAEGKRKAFSTCSSHLIVVSVYYSSVFCAYISPGSSYSPERSKFTSVLYSVL SPTLN (q) (SEQ ID NO:44)   1 gccaacctct ccagtgtcga cattagtgct ccatctgtca ttgtccccaa ggcattggtg  61 aatcatatgt tgggaagcaa gtccatctct tacacggggt gtatgaccca gatctatttc 121 ttcatcacat tcaacaatat ggatggcttc ctcctgagtg tgatggccta tgaccgctat 181 gtggccatct gtcaccctct ccactacacc atgatgatga gacccagact ctgtgtcctc 241 ctggtggcca tatcatgggc catcacaaac ctgcatgctc tcttgcatac tctcctcatg 301 gttcgactca ccttctgttc ccacaatgca gtgcaccact tcttctgtga cccctaccct 361 atcctgaagc tctcttgttc tgacaccttc atcaatgacc tgatggtctt caccattggt 421 ggattggtat ttatgactcc atttacatgc attattgttt cctatgccta catcttctct 481 aaggttctga agttaaaatc tgcccatgga ataaggaaag ccctgtcgac gtgtgggtct 541 cacctcactg tggtctccct cttctatggg gcgatcctgg gcatctatat gcacccttca 601 tctacataca cagtgcagga cacagtggcc accgtcatct tcacagtagt gacacccatg 661 gtcaac accctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:44) ANLSSVDISAPSVIVPKALVNHMLGSKSISYTGCMTQIYFFITF NNMDGFLLSVMAYDRYVAICHPLHYTMMMRPRLCVLLVAISWAITNLHALLHTLLMVR LTFCSHNAVHHFFCDPYPILKLSCSDTFINDLMVFTIGGLVFMTPFTCIIVSYAYIFS KVLKLKSAHGIRKALSTCGSHLTVVSLFYGAILGIYMHPSSTYTVQDTVATVIFTVVT PMVN (r) (SEQ ID NO:45)   1 agtcacttgg ccttcacgga catctctttc tcatctgtca cagctccaaa gatgctcatg  61 aatatgctga cacatagcca atccatctca catgctgggt gtgtttccca aatatatttt 121 ttcttattgt ttgggtgtat tgacaacttc cttctgactt ccatggccta tgacaggtat 181 gtggccatct gccaccctct gcattatacc actatcatga gtcaaagcct ctgtgttctg 241 ctagtgatgg tgtcctgggc attttcctct tctaatggcc ttgtgcatac tcttctcttt 301 gctcgtctct ctctttttag agacaacact gtccaccatt ttttctgtga tctctctgct 361 ttgctgaagc tgtccagctc agacactact atcaatgaac tagtaatcct cactttagca 421 gtggtggtca tcactgtacc attcatatgc atcctggttt cttatggcca catgggggcc 481 actatcctaa gaactccatc catcaagggt atctgcaaag ccttgtccac atgtggttct 541 catctctgtg tagtttcttt atattatgga gccattattg ggttatattt tttcccctcc 601 tccaataata ctaatgataa agatgtcata gtagctgtgt tgtacactgt ggttacaccc 661 atgctgaat  accctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:46) SHLAFTDISFSSVTAPKMLMNMLTHSQSISHAGCVSQIYFFLLF GCIDNFLLTSMAYDRYVAICHPLHYTTIMSQSLCVLLVMVSWAFSSSNGLVHTLLFAR LSLFRDNTVHHFFCDLSALLKLSSSDTTINELVILTLAVVVITVPFICILVSYGHMGA TILRTPSIKGICKALSTCGSHLCVVSLYYGAIIGLYFFPSSNNTNDKDVIVAVLYTVV TPMLN (s) (SEQ ID NO:47)   1 atggcgaaca gcactactgt tactgagttt attttgctgg ggctgtcaga tgcctgtgag  61 ctgcaggtgc tcatattcct gggctttctc ctgacctact tcctcattct gctgggaaac 121 ttcctcatca tcttcatcac ccttgtggac aggcgccttt acacccccat gtattacttc 181 ctccgcaact ttgccatgct ggagatctgg ttcacctctg tcatcttccc caagatgcta 241 accaacatca tcacaggaca taagaccatc tccctactag gttgtttcct ccaagcattc 301 ctctatttct tccttggcac cactgagttc tttctactgg cagtgatgtc ctttgacagg 361 tatgtggcca tttgtaaccc tttgcgttat gccaccatta tgagcaaaag agtctgtgtc 421 cagcttgtgt tttgctcatg gatgtctgga ttgcttctca tcatagttcc tagttcaatt 481 gtatttcagc agccattctg tggcccaaac atcattaatc atttcttctg tgacaacttt 541 ccacttatgg aactcatatg tgcagatact agcctggtag agttcctggg ttttgttatt 601 gccaatttca gcctcctggg cactctggct gtgactgcca cctgctatgg ccacattctc 661 tataccattc tacacattcc ttcagccaag gagaggaaga aagccttctc aacttgctcc 721 tctcatatta ttgtggtgtc tctcttctac ggcagctgta tcttcatgta tgtccggtct 781 ggcaagaatg gacaggggga ggatcataac aaggtggtgg cattgctcaa cactgtagtg 841 acacccacac tcaacccctt catctacact ctgaggaaca agcaggtgaa gcaggtattt 901 agggaacacg taagcaagtt ccaaaagttc agccagacgt gaaccctcaac with a deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:48) MANSTTVTEFILLGLSDACELQVLIFLGFLLTYFLILLGNFLII FITLVDRRLYTPMYYFLRNFAMLEIWFTSVIFPKMLTNIITGHKTISLLGCFLQAFLY FFLGTTEFFLLAVMSFDRYVAICNPLRYATIMSKRVCVQLVFCSWMSGLLLIIVPSSI VFQQPFCGPNIINHFFCDNFPLMELICADTSLVEFLGFVIANFSLLGTLAVTATCYGH ILYTILHIPSAKERKKAFSTCSSHIIVVSLFYGSCIFMYVRSGKNGQGEDHNKVVALL NTVVTPTLNPFIYTLRNKQVKQVFREHVSKFQKFSQT

Although each insert shared some sequence homology of previously characterized olfactory receptors, the sequenced receptors were all new members of the olfactory receptor family and were distributed broadly (shown in bold-type in FIG. 1B) across a similarity dendrogram. Also depicted in FIG. 1B are ten previously cloned olfactory receptors (see, e.g., Buck (1991) Cell 65:175-187), shown in italics in FIG. 1B, designated I3, I8, I14, I15, I9, F5, F3, F12, F6, and I7. Thus, the arrayed receptor plasmid inserts represented a diverse library of olfactory receptor sequences amenable to expression studies, described below.

Chimeric Vector Construction

PCR products were digested with PstI and BspEI restriction enzymes before size fractionation, purification and ligation into the pCMV-Rho/M4_(NC) vector (see FIG. 1A). The vector ligation products were transformed into E. coli and 480 clones were placed in 96-well plates. PCR screening revealed that >95% of the clones carried inserts of the expected size. Pools of cells from a single column of the plates (8 wells) were grown in a 50 ml culture and plasmid DNA prepared. Insert-containing vectors containing: the 5′-untranslated region of the rhodopsin gene, which included its coding region for the initiation methionine and the next 19 residues; joined to a full-length cDNA for a mouse olfactory receptor (M4 or I-C6), under the control of the CMV promoter, were also prepared. The full-length coding region of olfactory receptors mI7 and I-C6 were obtained by screening a mouse (129 SV/J) genomic phage (λFIX-II) library (2×10⁶ independent clones) using ³²P-labeled DNA fragments (of TMII through VII sequence) of the respective receptors under stringent conditions (hybridized at 0.2×SSC at 65° C.). DNA fragments encoding the full-length receptors were cloned into pBluescript (Stratagene) and sequenced.

Culture and Transient Transfection of Human Cells Expressing Olfactory Receptor

HEK-293 cells (obtained from the ATCC) were grown in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, penicillin (100 U/ml), streptomycin (100 μg/ml) and L-glutamine (2 mM) in 5% CO₂. Before transfection, the cells were seeded onto poly-L-lysine-coated 10.5×35×0.17 mm glass coverslips (Bellco) placed in the 60 mm culture dishes. Calcium phosphate-mediated transfections were performed in a 60 mm dish with 3 to 4 μg of receptor construct DNA, 1 μg of pCIS Gα15 and Gα16 expression vector (Offermanns (1995) supra). 2 μg of pBluescript carrier DNA, and 0.3 μg of pRSV-T antigen expression vector (Gorman (1990) DNA and Protein Eng. Tech. 2:3-9). After 5 to 7 hr incubation, the cells were washed once with PBS containing 0.5 mM EDTA and 10% DMSO, then with PBS before continuing growth in regular media for 40-50 hr.

Expression of Receptors on the Cell Surface for Functional Ligand-binding Assays

Efficient screening of expressed olfactory receptors with a large number of ligands by functional analysis requires a robust and sensitive assay system. Although the established role of cAMP in olfactory signaling offers a biochemical approach involving measurement of cAMP production in response to odorant stimulation, an alternative, rapid assay is to co-express the cloned olfactory receptors with G protein Gα_(15,16) subunits (see, e.g., Offermanns (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270:15175-15180), which can promiscuously couple 7-transmembrane domain receptors that normally signal through other second messengers to the PIP₂ pathway. In this reporter system, (olfactory) receptor activation leads to the generation of an IP₃-mediated increase in intracellular Ca²⁺, which can be measured at the single-cell level with high sensitivity and good temporal resolution using the dye FURA-2 and radiofluorometric imaging. These attributes were able to compensate for the low transfection efficiency in transient expression systems that would hinder more traditional biochemical assays.

A construct with the TM II-VII region from the β₂-adrenergic receptor inserted in the pCMV-Rho/M4_(NC) vector (Rho/M4_(NC)-β₂ TM II-VII) was co-transfected with Gα_(15,16) into HEK-293 cells. Immunocyto-chemical localization of vector-encoded, newly translated polypeptide with a B6-30 antibody against the rhodopsin tag (directed against the N-terminal 15 residues of rhodopsin, see Hargrave (1986 Exp. Eye Res. 42:363-373) was performed. Transfected HEK 293 cells were air dried and fixed in ice-cold methanol for 10 min. The fixed cells were blocked with 1.5% goat serum in PBS for 30 minutes and then incubated for 1 hour in PBS containing 0.03% goat serum and a 1:1000 dilution of the B6-30. After washing with PBS, a FITC-coupled, polyclonal anti-mouse antibody (Vector) was used to visualize the rhodopsin-tagged protein. Images of fluorescent cells were obtained on a Zeiss 510 confocal microscope with excitation at 488 nm. Results of the localization experiments indicated that a significant portion of the expressed protein appeared to be localized to the plasma membrane (10% or more of total expressed protein). These results demonstrate that the rhodopsin N-terminus-derived “translocation domain” of the invention, when expressed in the chimeric receptors, was the cause of the efficient translocation of the chimeric receptor molecules to the plasma membrane.

These transfected cells were then tested for their ability to functionally respond to ligand-receptor binding. The ligand, the adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, was “bath” applied to the transfected cells and single cell Ca²⁺-imaging was performed. Cells were pre-loaded with the Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescent dye FURA-2 AM (Molecular Probes) by bathing in serum-free DMEM containing 4 μM of the membrane permeant chemical for 1 hr at 37° C., then washed with a standard bath solution (130 mM NaCl, 2 mM CaCl₂, 5 mM KCl, 10 mM glucose, 10 mM Na•HEPES/pH 7.4 at room temperature). For each experiment, a glass coverslip with FURA-2 loaded HEK 293 cells was introduced into an open-topped, longitudinal microperfusion chamber (300 μl bath volume mounted on a Zeiss Axiovert 135 microscope equipped with an F Fluar 40×/1.30 oil-immersion lens. The cells were superfused with test solutions typically for 30 to 40 seconds (5 ml/application) and washed out with 5 ml of bath solution at the end of each application. Each test solution was freshly diluted and manually applied with a micropipette into the chamber. Because of this manual procedure, there could be several seconds of delay in actual application from electronic tick marks used to define the beginning of application in each graph. At the same time, the solution flow might not be completely laminar. In most cases, the onset of Ca2+ rise in response to a specific solution occurred within 15 seconds of the beginning of solution application, though longer delays were sometimes observed. Acetylcholine was applied at the end of each experiment at 10 μM for 15-20 seconds. Ratiometric Ca²⁺ measurements were performed as described by Grynkiewicz (1985) 260:3440-3450, with modifications using the Zeiss/Attofluor-Ratiovision imaging system. At 5-second intervals, the cells were sequentially illuminated for less than 100 ms, first at 340 nm and then at 380 nm. Fluorescence emission at 510 nm was monitored for each excitation wavelength via an intensified CCD camera. Averaged pixel intensities within 40 to 100 regions of interest, corresponding to 40 to 100 individual cells, were digitized and stored on a computer. Attofluor-Ratiovision software (Atto Instruments) was used to determine the Ca²⁺-dependent fluorescence signal expressed as the F₃₄₀/F₃₈₀ ratio. Signals from all responding cells, or all cells (negative controls) were averaged and displayed as a function of time.

Isoproterenol bath application resulted in a transient increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ in the transfected cells. The Ca²⁺ transient induced by isoproterenol was dependent on cotransfection with the Gα_(15,16) subunits. Cells transfected with the G protein subunits alone produced a small response to isoproterenol, presumably due to some endogenous β-adrenergic receptors on their surface. However, odorants such as heptanal (7-al) and octanal (8-al) had no effect.

A second application of isoproterenol frequently failed to elicit a response, possibly suggesting a rapid desensitization of the Gα_(15,16)-mediated signal transduction pathway. Although its mechanism is unclear, this rapid desensitization was a frequent observation with this expression system. HEK-293 cells have intrinsic muscarinic receptors coupled to the PIP₂ pathway via endogenous G proteins. The rise in intracellular Ca²⁺ upon activation of this pathway by bath-applied acetylcholine (10 μM) served as a control in this system.

As a second test example, a Rho/M4_(NC)-ratI7 TM II-VII chimeric construct was generated and co-expressed with Gα_(15,16) in HEK-293 cells. A Ca²⁺ transient was observed in the transfected cells in response to 10 μM octanal. The transfected cell responded to 30 μM, but not 10 μM, of heptanal (a shorter aldehyde than octanal). The response to octanal also required the presence of Gα_(15,16).

As with the β₂-adrenergic receptor, desensitization often occurred after a positive response. For example, little or no effect was observed upon a second application of octanal, even at 30 μM. A similar response profile was obtained with a construct in which the translocation domain of the invention (rhodopsin N-terminus) was fused to the full-length rat I7 odorant/ligand region encoding sequence. This chimeric receptor responded to octanal even at 1 μM. The ligand specificity was not absolute; a small response was also observed to 30 μM heptanal (similar to an in vivo finding by Zhao (1998) Science 279:237-242). Sometimes, the delay between the start of odorant application and the beginning of Ca²⁺ rise could be more than 30 seconds (e.g., the first response to octanal). The reason for this relatively long delay is unknown, but it could have arisen from a non-linear, thresholding mechanism. Additional experiments in which successive applications of two odorants were separated by periods as long as 5 minutes, however, removed any possible confusion with respect to which odorant triggered a given response.

The above results validate the HEK-293 cell expression of cloned olfactory receptor sequences as a screening system for identifying unknown odorants. They also demonstrate that odorant/ligands are binding to the 7-transmembrane domain region TM II-VII of an olfactory receptor to produce a physiologic response (in these experiments, measured by Ca²⁺ transients).

Identification of Cognate Ligand-receptor Pairs for the Cloned Receptor Library

The 7-transmembrane domain region TM II-VII expressing vector libraries of the invention were expressed in this cell expression system. Various odorant were screened for their ability to generate a physiologic response in the form of a calcium transient, as above. Eighty plasmid clones arrayed in microtiter plates were pooled into 10 groups of eight constructs each, and co-transfected with Gα_(15,16) into HEK-293 cells. After pre-loading with FURA-2, the transfected cells were screened sequentially against each of 26 odorants: Hedione, (−) carvone, (+) carvone, (+) citronellal, (−) citronellal, 2-methyl-4-propyl-1,3-oxalthiane, methylsalicylate, pyrrolidine, quinoleine, lyral, cyclohexanone, acetophenone, 2-methoxy-3-methyl-pyrazine, pyrazine, 2-methoxypyrazine, isovalieric acid, isobutyric acid, triethylamine, citralva, (+) limonene, 6-aldehyde, 7-aldehyde, 8-aldehyde, 9-aldehyde, 10-aldehyde, and 11-aldehyde (Firmenich, S. A., Princeton, N.J.). The odorants were stored under nitrogen. Stock solutions of the odorants were made up fresh each day in DMSO and diluted 1000-fold into the standard bath solution to give the indicated concentrations approximately 10 seconds before application in a given experiment.

All of the (twenty-six) odorants were applied at 10 μM to induce a Ca²⁺ response as described previously. Three sample “pools” (a mixture of clones) produced transient increases in Ca²⁺ in response to the application of (−) carvone, (−) citronellal and (+) limonene, respectively. The lack of response of one pool to (+) carvone could reflect desensitization resulting from the positive response to (−) carvone occurring immediately before, or, alternatively, a stereo-specificity in ligand recognition. This desensitization could also have obscured the response to subsequent odorant applications; nonetheless, a second response to (−) carvone could still be elicited. The absence of response to (+) citronellal for another pool apparently results from a genuine stereo-specificity in ligand recognition, because there was no prior positive response that would lead to desensitization. The lack of responses to the subsequent odorants was confirmed by additional experiments with the same set of odorants but (−) where citronellal was applied last.

Next, 8 individual clones from each of these three tested pools were isolated and tested for their ability to encode receptor binding domains with specificity for the odorants identified above. Three responsive chimeric olfactory receptors were isolated; they were designated I-D3 (carvone), I-C6 (citronellal) and I-G7 (limonene). Further experiments indicated that the I-D3 receptor was responsive to both (+) and (−) carvone). The I-C6 receptor appeared to be selective for the (−) stereoisomer of citronellal. Finally, the I-G7 receptor responded to both (+) and (−) limonene at the same concentration of 10 μM, though perhaps not as well to the (−) isomer. For each of the three isolates, control experiments indicated that the specific responses required the presence of Gα_(15,16) (as discussed above).

To determine if these physiologic responses were caused by ligand interaction with a full-length 7-membrane receptor, a genomic clone of the entire I-C6 receptor coding sequence was isolated and used to make a chimeric molecule incorporating the tranlocation domain of the invention (the “rhodopsin tag” sequence). The full-length I-C6 receptor retained the same stereo-selectivity as a chimeric receptor construct whose only I-C6 sequence was the transmembrane domains II through VII (i.e., the odorant/ligand binding domain). Both recombinantly expressed receptors preferred the (−) isomer of citronellal; it also showed high sensitivity, responding to this chemical even at 1 μM. The stereo-specificity was not absolute, however, in that (+) citronellal was also able to elicit a response when applied at 30 μM and 100 μM. By comparison, carvone and limonene elicited no responses from this receptor even at 100 μM. Five structurally related compounds besides (−) and (+) citronellal were also tested (±citral, (−) citronellyl bromide, (−) citral demethyl acetal, (−) citronellic acid and (−) citronellol), all at 30 μM. Among these, only 30 μM (−) citronellyl bromide elicited a small response. This compound differs from (−) citronellal by the substitution of a bromine for the oxygen atom in the aldehyde functional group. The lack of response to (−) citronellal may be due to desensitization resulting from the positive response to 30 μM (+) citronellal immediately before. Finally, in control experiments lacking Gα_(15,16), no response was observed to either (−) citronellal or (−) citronellyl bromide (FIG. 5C). Although these experiments do not quantitate ligand affinities, they provide a qualitative rank order of potency for binding and activating the I-C6 receptor: (−)citronellal>(+)citronellal, citronellyl bromide>28 other odorants.

Analysis of Individual Amino Acid Residues on Receptor-odorant Binding Specificities

To establish the functional expression of mouse olfactory receptors, a Rho/M4_(NC)-mouse I7 transmembrane II-VII chimeric receptor was constructed and examined its responsiveness to several n-aliphatic aldehydes and alcohols. At 10 μM concentrations of these odorants, the mouse receptor responded only to heptanal. As discussed above, the rat I7 chimeric receptor responded better to octanal than to heptanal in identical experiments. This difference in odorant selectivity was retained by the full-length clones of the two receptors fused to the translocation domain of the invention (the rhodopsin tag). The rat and mouse I7 receptors differ in altogether 15 amino-acid residues, three of which (K₉₀E in the 1^(st) extracellular loop, V₂₀₆I in TM V, and F₂₉₀L in TM VII) reside between transmembrane domains II and VII.

In light of the critical role of residues in transmembrane V for ligand binding in the β₂-adrenergic receptor, the role of residue 206 in differential ligand recognition was examined. Reciprocal valine/isoleucine substitutions were made in the full-length rat and mouse I7 receptor sequences. These substitutions were able to switch the ligand preferences of the two receptors, namely, making the rat I7 receptor preferentially recognize heptanal and the mouse receptor preferentially recognize octanal. Interestingly, the nature of these changes, isoleucine versus valine and heptanal versus octanal, is consistent with compensatory alterations in the structures of ligand and receptor that preserve the complementarity between the two. These observations provide strong evidence for a direct role of residue 206 in the interaction between the I7 receptor and aliphatic aldehydes. These results also demonstrate that the compositions and methods of the invention can be used to analyze odorant/ligand-olfactory receptor interactions on a molecular level.

Summary

The few studies carried out previously on identifying cognate odorant-olfactory receptor pairs have generally focused on a single receptor and examined its responsiveness to a large number of odorants or odorant mixtures. The present invention provides the means to take a different approach by generating olfactory receptor libraries to use in the screening of a large number of cloned receptors simultaneously against a large panel of individual odorants. In this way, the problem of poor expression, inefficient folding or weak coupling to second-messenger systems associated with certain receptors in a heterologous system is avoided. Moreover, screening multiple receptors against multiple odorants, greatly increases the probability of identifying responsive combinations of receptors and odorants. Finally, the apparent diversity of the receptor sequences should further enhance the scan of the odor space. The above-described experiments screened 80 clones (not counting the I7 receptor) against 26 odorants. Because a given odorant should be recognized by at least one member of, say, a total of 1000 receptors, the chance of encountering an odorant that is a cognate ligand to 80 receptors should, on average, be 8% (= 80/1000), or 2 positives in a pool of 26 odorants. This number is close to the number (3) identified experimentally herein. The receptor library generated with a single pair of degenerate primers of the invention (the TM II to TM VII amplifying pair) encompasses a broad range of the olfactory receptor family. Several hundred distinct sequences are represented in this exemplary library of the invention.

The addition of translocation domains of the invention (the first twenty amino-acid residues of a rhodopsin N-terminal segment, with some exemplary domains also consisting of a 5′-untranslated rhodopsin region) to the chimeric olfactory receptors of the invention facilitated their plasma membrane localization. This included the full-length I-C6 receptor, where the inclusion of the translocation domain was necessary in order to observe a response to (−) citronellal. The different translocation domains of the invention may be aiding in the translocation process in different ways; however, the invention is not limited by what structural contribution may be played by the translocation domain to the newly translated protein's translocation process. 

1. A nucleic acid construct that encodes a hybrid seven-transmembrane receptor which facilitates the translocation of a seven-transmembrane receptor across a cell membrane, said construct comprising: (i) a first nucleic acid sequence that encodes a first seven-transmembrane receptor polypeptide that is the rhodopsin translocation peptide contained in SEQ ID NO:3 or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a variant of said rhodopsin translocation peptide, wherein said variant is identical to said rhodopsin translocation peptide but for a single conservative amino acid substitution which substitutes a first amino residue in a first group for a second amino acid residue within the first group, wherein the first group is selected from the groups consisting of: 1) Alanine (A), Serine (S), Threonine (T); 2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E); 3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q); 4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K); 5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V); and 6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W); and (ii) a second nucleic acid sequence that encodes a second seven-transmembrane receptor polypeptide, wherein said nucleic acid construct when expressed in a cell results in a hybrid seven-transmembrane receptor polypeptide comprising the rhodopsin translocation peptide or said variant, and the second seven-transmembrane receptor polypeptide, wherein the rhodopsin translocation peptide or said variant directs the translocation of the second seven-transmembrane receptor polypeptide across the cell membrane, wherein said variant translocates the seven-transmembrane receptor polypeptide as efficiently as the rhodopsin translocation polypeptide.
 2. The nucleic acid construct of claim 1 wherein said second seven-transmembrane receptor polypeptide is an olfactory receptor.
 3. The nucleic acid construct of claim 2 wherein said first nucleic acid sequence encodes the rhodopsin translocation peptide contained in SEQ ID NO:
 3. 4. The nucleic acid construct of claim 3 wherein said construct further comprises a transcriptional and/or a translational control element operably linked to said first nucleic acid sequence.
 5. The nucleic acid construct of claim 1 which comprises a plasmid.
 6. The nucleic acid construct of claim 1 wherein said first nucleic acid sequence encodes the rhodopsin translocation peptide contained in SEQ ID NO:
 3. 7. The nucleic acid construct of claim 6 wherein said construct further comprises a transcriptional and/or a translational control element operably linked to said first nucleic acid sequence.
 8. The nucleic acid construct of claim 1 wherein said construct further comprises a transcriptional and/or a translational control element operably linked to said first nucleic acid sequence. 